Thing Knowledge: A Philosophy of Scientific Instruments

by Davis Baird

Western philosophers have traditionally concentrated on theory as the means for expressing knowledge about a variety of phenomena. This absorbing book challenges this fundamental notion by showing how objects themselves, specifically scientific instruments, can express knowledge. As he considers numerous intriguing examples, Davis Baird gives us the tools to "read" the material products of science and technology and to understand their place in culture. Making a provocative and original challenge to our conception of knowledge itself, Thing Knowledge demands that we take a new look at theories of science and technology, knowledge, progress, and change. Baird considers a wide range of instruments, including Faraday's first electric motor, eighteenth-century mechanical models of the solar system, the cyclotron, various instruments developed by analytical chemists between 1930 and 1960, spectrometers, and more.

Genres: Philosophy, History Of Science

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Gabriella]

Have you ever really thought about the way scientific instruments bare knowledge? Whatever your answer is you should read this book anyway.

[Sireli R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

For school. I didnt like this book. I had to read it, but to be honest, I'm still not sure why. I still dont understand why people have to wrtite a book about something, that could be said with less paper. I think that this book should not be like 300 pages long, but more like 10-50 pages. It was ok to read, but I didnt find it important. Just...meh. Plus.... philosophy of scients....seriously? Tell me again why do we need it???