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This is the first book to explore how to identify future-proof science. Peter Vickers takes a transdisciplinary approach in his analysis of 'scientific fact' in order to defend science against potentially dangerous scepticism.
List of contents
- Preface
- List of Figures
- 1: What is future-proof science?
- 2: The historical challenge to future-proof science: the debate so far
- 3: Meckel's successful prediction of gill slits: a case of misleading evidence?
- 4: The Tiktaalik 'missing link' novel predictive success and the evidence for evolution
- 5: The judgement of the scientific community: lessons from continental drift
- 6: Fundamental physics and the special vulnerability to underdetermination
- 7: Do we know how the dinosaurs died?
- 8: Scientific knowledge in a pandemic
- 9: Core argument, objections, replies, and outlook
- Bibliography
- Index
About the author
Peter Vickers is Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Centre for Humanities Engaging Science and Society (CHESS) at the University of Durham, UK. His research interests include philosophy of astrobiology, social epistemology, and the relationships between evidence, facts, and truth. Vickers's first book,
Understanding Inconsistent Science, was published by Oxford University Press in 2013.
Summary
This is the first book to explore how to identify future-proof science. Peter Vickers takes a transdisciplinary approach in his analysis of 'scientific fact' in order to defend science against potentially dangerous scepticism.
Additional text
Peter Vickers gives clear, convincing philosophical arguments and fascinating case studies to support bold predictions about which scientific findings will stand the test of time.