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This thoroughly updated second edition guides readers through the central concepts and debates in the philosophy of science. Using concrete examples from the history of science, Kent W. Staley addresses questions about what science is, why it is important, and the basis for trust in scientific results. The first part of the book introduces the central concepts of philosophy of science, with updated discussions of the problem of induction, underdetermination, rationality, scientific progress, and important movements such as falsificationism, logical empiricism, and postpositivism, together with a new chapter on social constructionism. The second part offers updated chapters on probability, scientific realism, explanation, and values in science, along with new discussions of the role of models in science, science in policy-making, and feminist philosophy of science. This broad yet detailed overview will give readers a strong grounding in philosophy of science whilst also providing opportunities for further exploration.
Table des matières
List of figures; List of tables; Preface: philosophy of science for philosophers, scientists, and everyone else; Acknowledgments; List of abbreviations; Part I. Background and Basic Concepts: 1. Some problems of induction; 2. Falsificationism: science without induction?; 3. Underdetermination; 4. Logical empiricism; 5. Post-positivist views on scientific progress and rationality; Interlude. Robert Boyle's experiments with the air-pump; 6. Relativism and social constructionism; Part II. Ongoing Investigations: 7. Scientific models and representation; 8. Reasoning with probability: Bayesianism; 9. Reasoning with probability: frequentism; 10. Realism and anti-realism; 11. Explanation; 12. Values in science and science in policy-making; 13. Feminist philosophies of science; References; Index.
Résumé
Guiding readers through the central philosophical debates within the philosophy of science, this thoroughly updated second edition includes topics such as scientific rationality, objectivity, and progress; the philosophical importance of scientific models; and the impact of feminist ideas on our understanding of science.
