A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science / Edition 4

by John Losee

Overview

Designed for first-time readers of the subject, this stimulating introduction offers a historical exposition of differing views on the philosophy of science. With concise profiles presenting the major philosophers whose contributions are discussed in this book, Losee explores the long-argued questions raised by philosophers and scientists about the proper evaluation of science. This new edition incorporates contemporary developments in the discipline, including recent work on theory-appraisal, experimental practice, the debate over scientific realism, and the philosophy of biology. Taking a balanced and informative approach, this work is the ideal introductory volume.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198700555
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/17/2001
Series:	Opus S
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	9.22(w) x 6.12(h) x 0.71(d)

About the Author

John Losee is Professor of Philosophy at Lafayette College, USA.

Table of Contents

Introduction1. Aristotle's Philosophy of Science2. The Pythagorean Orientation3. The Ideal of Deductive Systemization4. Atomism and the Concept of Underlying Mechanism5. Affirmation and Development of Aristotle's Method in the Medieval Period6. The Debate over Saving the Appearances7. The Seventeenth-Century Attack on Aristotelian Philosophy8. Newton's Axiomatic Method9. Analysis of the Implications of the New Science for a Theory of Scientific Method10. Inductivism iv/i the Hypothetico-Deductive View of Science11. Mathematical Positivism and Conventionlism12. Logical Reconstructivist Philosophy of Science13. Orthodoxy under Attack14. Theories of Scientific Progress15. Explanation, Causation, and Unification16. Confirmation and Evidential Support17. The Justification of Evaluative Standards18. The Debate over Scientific Realism19. Descriptive Philosophies of ScienceBibliographyIndex

Editorial Reviews

"An excellent text. Utterly unique in its depth of historical material."—Michael Goodman, Humboldt State University

"[A] well-known and widely used text.....As in the earlier editions the same writing style and format for organizing the material are preserved. As a result the book rigidly stays at the level of presenting only carefully condensed factual presentations in serial order of the individual authors involved, and scrupulously avoids any critical evaluations or comparisons of the philosophies of science sketched out for the reader."—Physis

"This is a concise and authorative summary of ideas about the scientific methods from antiquity to the present day, hence an invaluable source to students and teachers of philosophy and the history of science."—Kenneth A.R. Kennedy, Cornell University

From the Publisher