The Laboratory of the Mind: Thought Experiments in the Natural Sciences

by James Robert Brown

Overview

Newton's bucket, Einstein's elevator, Schrödinger's cat – these are some of the best-known examples of thought experiments in the natural sciences. But what function do these experiments perform? Are they really experiments at all? Can they help us gain a greater understanding of the natural world? How is it possible that we can learn new things just by thinking?

In this revised and updated new edition of his classic text The Laboratory of the Mind, James Robert Brown continues to defend apriorism in the physical world. This edition features two new chapters, one on “counter thought experiments” and another on the development of inertial motion. With plenty of illustrations and updated coverage of the debate between Platonic rationalism and classic empiricism, this is a lively and engaging contribution to the field of philosophy of science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415996532
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/27/2010
Series:	Philosophical Issues in Science Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

James Robert Brown is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments vi

Preface (to the second edition) ix

1 Illustrations from the laboratory of the mind 1

2 The structure of thought experiments 32

3 Counter thought experiments 48

4 Mathematical thinking 67

5 Seeing the laws of nature 98

6 The development of inertial motion 125

7 Einstein's brand of verificationism 152

8 Quantum mechanics: a Platonic interpretation 176

Afterword 201

Notes 205

Bibliography 210

Index 223

Editorial Reviews

"If thought experiments have extraordinary powers, then they need an extraordinary epistemology. This book is the only serious attempt to provide it."–John Norton, University of Pittsburgh

Praise for the first edition:

"Cogent, lively, enthusiastic ... A wonderfully stimultating book, highly rcommended"
–CHOICE

"I recommend this book to anybody interested in the philosophy of science...a fascinating compendium of these testaments to scientific genius."–David Papineau, Times Higher Education Supplement

From the Publisher

Starting with Galileo's argument on falling bodies, Brown describes many of the most influential examples. A pro-rationalist, anti- empiricist work. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews