The Significance of the Hypothetical in the Natural Sciences

by Michael Heidelberger (Editor), Gregor Schiemann (Editor)

Overview

How was the hypothetical character of theories of experience thought about throughout the history of science? The essays cover periods from the middle ages to the 19th and 20th centuries. It is fascinating to see how natural scientists and philosophers were increasingly forced to realize that a natural science without hypotheses is not possible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110206944
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	12/11/2009
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.06(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Michael Heidelberger, Eberhard Karls Universityät Tübingen; Gregor Schiemann, Universityät Wuppertal.

Table of Contents

Introduction Michael Heidelberger Gregor Schiemann 1

Hypothesis in Early Modern Science Ernan McMullin 7

Experience and Hypotheses: Opinions within Locke's Realm Rainer Specht 39

Hypotheses in 19^th Century British Philosophy of Science: Herschel, Whewell, Mill Laura J. Snyder 59

From Axioms to Conventions and Hypotheses: The Foundations of Mechanics and the Roots of Carl Neumann's “Principles of the Galilean-Newtonian Theory” Helmut Pulte 77

Contingent Laws of Nature in Émile Boutroux Michael Heidelberger 99

Pluralism and the Hypothetical in Heinrich Hertz's Philosophy of Science Michael Heidelberger 145

Hypotheses and Conventions in Poincaré Gerhard Heinzmann 169

Hypothesis and Convention in Poincaré's Defense of Galilei Spacetime Scott Walter 193

Vaihinger and Poincaré: An Original Pragmatism? Christophe Bouriau 221

Werner Heisenberg's Position on a Hypothetical Conception of Science Gregor Schiemann 251

“Instrumentalism“ and “Realism” as Categories in the History of Astronomy: Duhem vs. Popper, Maimonides vs. Gersonides Gad Freudenthal 269

Hypotheticity and Realism—Duhem, Popper and Scientific Realism Andreas Bartels 295

The Hypothesis of Reality and the Reality of Hypotheses Alfred Nordmann 313

Hypothetical Metaphysics of Nature Michael Esfeld 341

Contributors 365

Index 371