Scientific Symbiosis Represents the Mutual Benefit of Iteratively Adopting the Perspective of Realism and Instrumentalism.

This article presents response of researchers John T. Cacioppo, Gary G. Berntson and Gün R. Semin to the comments about their research related to realism, instrumentalism and scientific symbiosis. By analogy, scientists benefit from appropriately applying both inductive and deductive reasoning to the problem of scientific inquiry. The appropriate and iterative application of induction and deduction in science might reasonably be described as symbiotic because the accrual of knowledge benefits from their iterative application in the scientific method. Researchers agree with assertion that subjectivism may color a scientist's understanding of phenomena under investigation. The division of knowledge into disciplines reflects the limits of human capacities, and the specific aspects on which scientists choose to focus are an expression of expectations and values. In sum, researchers appreciate the thoughtful commentaries and hope readers agree that the comments raise important questions and point to worthwhile literatures beyond what they could cover.