'This is a fine introductory text. It incorporates recent advances in philosophical research on scientific methodology, and Staley's engaging and easy-to-read style makes it an excellent work for beginning philosophy of science students.' Joseph Pitt, Virginia College of Technology

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.
Les mer
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.
Les mer
This thoroughly updated second edition guides readers through the central concepts and debates in the philosophy of science.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781009097963
Publisert
2025-03-27
Utgave
2. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
412

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Kent W. Staley is Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. He is the author of 'The Evidence for the Top Quark: Objectivity and Bias in Collaborative Experimentation' (Cambridge, 2004).