An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

Texte du rabat

Guiding readers through the central philosophical debates within the philosophy of science, this thoroughly updated second edition includes topics such as scientific rationality, objectivity, and progress; the philosophical importance of scientific models; and the impact of feminist ideas on our understanding of science.

Contenu

List of figures; List of tables; Preface: philosophy of science for philosophers, scientists, and everyone else; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; Part I. Background and Basic Concepts: 1. Some problems of induction; 2. Falsificationism: science without induction?; 3. Underdetermination; 4. Logical empiricism; 5. Post-positivist views on scientific progress and rationality; Interlude. Robert Boyle's experiments with the air-pump; 6. Relativism and social constructionism; Part II. Ongoing Investigations: 7. Scientific models and representation; 8. Reasoning with probability: Bayesianism; 9. Reasoning with probability: frequentism; 10. Realism and anti-realism; 11. Explanation; 12. Values in science and science in policy-making; 13. Feminist philosophies of science; References; Index.