The Ozone Layer: A Philosophy of Science Perspective / Edition 1

by Maureen Christie

Overview

The Ozone Layer is an accessible history of stratospheric ozone, from its discovery in the nineteenth century to current investigations of the Antarctic ozone hole. Drawing directly on the scientific literature, Christie uses the story of ozone as a case study for examining fundamental issues relating to the practice of modern science and the conduct of scientific debate. Linking key debates in the philosophy of science to an example of real-world science it is an excellent and thought-provoking introduction to the philosophy of science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521659086
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/18/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	228
Sales rank:	1,017,167
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.47(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; Part I. History of the Understanding of Stratospheric Ozone: 2. Stratospheric ozone before 1960; 3. Chlorinated fluorocarbons; 4. The supersonic transport (SST) debate; 5. Molina and Rowland: chlorine enters the story; 6. Too much of a good thing? Crucial data backlog in the Antarctic ozone hole discovery; 7. Antarctic ozone hole - theories and investigations; 8. Completing the picture: from AAOE to 1994; Part II. Philosophical Issues Arising from the History: 9. Prediction in science; 10. The crucial experiment; 11. Positive and negative evidence in theory selection; 12. Branches and sub-branches of science: problems at disciplinary boundaries; 13. Scientific evidence and powerful computers: new problems for philosophers of science?; 14. The scientific consensus.

Editorial Reviews

"Maureen Christie's carefully reasoned book presents a critical philosophical analysis of the evidence development between 1970 and 1994 on the effects of human-produced chlorinated fluorocarbons ( CFCs) on the ozone layer...remarkably successful, providing an illuminating way to understand the interplay of argument and evidence." American Scientist, VOL 89

"Although the book focuses on ozone, a few additional examples provide helpful extensions." CHOICE Nov 2001

"The volume is scholarly but written at a level that makes it accessible to the non-specialist" Research News & Opportunities in science and Theology

From the Publisher