Those involved in the improvement science community have much to celebrate as more resources become available to improve patient safety. Professor Kathleen Steven’s letter in this issue reminds us there is still much to do and that progress depends on building the scientific basis for improved patient safety and health outcomes. Professor Stevens’ letter builds on Professor Pearson’s promotion ...

A first step is taken towards articulating a constructive empiricist philosophy of mathematics, thus extending van Fraassen's account to this domain. In order to do so, I adapt Field's nominalisation programme, making it compatible with an empiricist stance. Two changes are introduced: (a) Instead of taking conservativeness as the norm of mathematics, the empiricist countenances the weaker noti...