1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910824349903321

Autore

Ladyman James

Titolo

Understanding philosophy of science / / James Ladyman

Pubbl/distr/stampa

London, [England] ; ; New York, New York : , : Routledge, , 2002

©2002

ISBN

9786612778599

1-283-54656-6

0-203-46368-4

9786613859013

1-134-59791-6

0-203-25046-X

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (452 p.)

Disciplina

501

Soggetti

Science - Philosophy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Philosophy of science as epistemology and metaphysics; Part I: The Scientific Method; 1. Induction and Inductivism; 1.1 The sceptic's challenge; 1.2 The scientific revolution; 1.3 The 'new tool' of induction; 1.4 (Naïve) inductivism; Further reading; 2. The Problem of Induction and Other Problems with Inductivism; 2.1 The problem of induction; 2.2 Solutions and dissolutions of the problem of induction; 2.3 Inductivism and the history of science; 2.4 Theory and observation; 2.5 Conclusions

Further reading3. Falsificationism; 3.1 Popper and the critique of Marxism and psychoanalysis; 3.2 Popper's solution to the problem of induction; 3.3 The context of discovery and the context of justification; 3.4 The Duhem problem; 3.5 Problems with falsificationism; 3.6 Conclusions; Further reading; 4. Revolutions and Rationality; 4.1 The received view of science; 4.2 Kuhn's revolutionary history of science; 4.3 Paradigms and normal science; 4.4 The Copernican revolution; 4.5 Theory and observation; 4.6 Incommensurability; 4.7 Relativism and the role of reason in science; Further reading



Part II: Realism and Antirealism about Science5. Scientific Realism; 5.1 Appearance and reality; 5.2 The metaphysics of the external world; 5.3 Semantics; 5.4 Standard scientific realism; 5.5 Antirealism; Further reading; 6. Underdetermination; 6.1 Underdetermination; 6.2 Constructive empiricism; Further reading; 7. Explanation and Inference; 7.1 Explanation; 7.2 Inference to the best explanation; 7.3 Common sense, realism and constructive empiricism; Further reading; 8. Realism About What?; 8.1 Theory change; 8.2 Multiple models; 8.3 Idealisation; 8.4 Structural realism; Further reading

GlossaryBibiliography; Index

Sommario/riassunto

Few can imagine a world without telephones or televisions; many depend on computers and the Internet as part of daily life. Without scientific theory, these developments would not have been possible.In this exceptionally clear and engaging introduction to philosophy of science, James Ladyman explores the philosophical questions that arise when we reflect on the nature of the scientific method and the knowledge it produces. He discusses whether fundamental philosophical questions about knowledge and reality might be answered by science, and considers in detail the debate between realist