Overview

Scientific Inquiry: Readings in the Philosophy of Science features an impressive collection of classical and contemporary readings on a wide range of issues in the philosophy of science. The volume is organized into six sections, each with its own introduction, and includes a general introduction that situates the philosophy of science in relation to other areas of intellectual inquiry. The selections focus on the main issues in the field, including the structure of scientific theories, models of scientific explanation, reductionism, historicist challenges to the objectivity of science, and the dispute over the ontological interpretation of mature scientific theories. Both the positivist model of science and its competitors, including contemporary social constructivist models, are included. Ideal for introductory philosophy of science courses, Scientific Inquiry strives to provide students and other readers with a thorough knowledge of the philosophical complexity of modern science and an appreciation of its authoritative intellectual standing in contemporary life.

Full Product Details

Author:   Klee
Publisher:   Oxford University Press Inc
Imprint:   Oxford University Press Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.510kg
ISBN:  

9780195119763

ISBN 10:   0195119762
Pages:   368
Publication Date:   10 September 1998
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: The Positivist Model of Scientific Theories and Its Problems Section 1: Logic, Language, and the Observational/Theoretical Distinction 1: The Rise of Logical Positivism: Alexander Rosenberg 2: The Positivist Model of Scientific Theories: Frederick Suppe 3: Problems with the Observational/Theoretical Distinction: Hilary Putnam 4: Theoretical Entities: Grover Maxwell 5: A Defense of the Observational/Theoretical Distinction: Bas Van Fraassen 6: A Critique of Operationalism: Technical Interlude: Carl Hempel Section 2: The Underdetermination of Theory and Holism 7: Physical Theory and Experiment: Pierre Dunhem 8: Falsification: Sir Karl Popper 9: Holism, Part 1: Two Dogmas of Empiricism: W.V. Quine 10: Holism, Part 2: Posits and Reality: W.V. Quine 11: A Critique of Underdetermination: Technical Interlude: Larry Laudan Section 3: Reductionism, Antireductionism, and Scientific Explanation 12: A Model of Intertheoretic Reduction: Ernest Nagel 13: Unity of Science: Paul Oppenheim and Hilary Putnam 14: A Critique of Physiological Reductionism: Jerry Fodor 15: The Nature of Supervenience: Technical Interlude: Jaegwon Kim 16: The Deductive-Nomological Model of Scientific Explanation: Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim 17: The Unification Model of Scientific Explanation: Philip Kitcher 18: The Aleatory Model of Scientific Explanation: Technical Interlude: Paul Humphreys Part II: Historicism and Its Aftermath Section 4: The Kuhnian Model of Science 19: The Nature of Normal Science: Thomas Kuhn 20: The Nature of Revolutionary Science: Thomas Kuhn 21: The Rationality of Science After Kuhn: Ian Hacking 22: An Argument Against Method: Polemical Interlude: Paul Feyerabend Section 5: Social Constructivism and Feminism 23: The Strong Programme in the Sociology of Science: David Bloor 24: A Social Constructivist Field Study: Bruno Latour and Steve Woolgar 25: A Critique of Social Constructivism: James Robert Brown 26: The Sokal Hoax: Polemical Interlude: Paul Boghossian 27: Feminist Science Criticism: Sandra Harding 28: Problems with Feminist Epistemology: Cassandra Pinnick 29: A Critique of Feminist Science Criticism: Polemical Interlude: Paul R. Gross and Norman Levitt Section 6: Realism and Antirealism 30: Realism in Mathematics and Elsewhere: Hilary Putnam 31: Alternatives to Realism: Bas van Fraassen 32: Realism and Scientific Progress: Philip Kitcher 33: Realism, Antirealism, and NOA: James Robert Brown 34: Idealism and Antirealism: Polemical Interlude: Alan Musgrave

Reviews

Author Information

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions