Philosophy of Science: Key Concepts

by Steven French

Science has made a huge impact on human society over hundred years, but how does it work? How do scientists do the things they do? How do they come up with the theories? How do they test them? How do they use these theories to explain phenomena? How do they draw conclusions from them about how the world might be?

Now updated, this second edition of Philosophy of Key Concepts looks at each of these questions and more. Taking in turn the fundamental theories, processes and views lying at the heart of the philosophy of science, this engaging introduction illuminates the scientific practice and provides a better appreciation of how science actually works. It

- Chapters on discovery, evidence, verification and falsification, realism and objectivity
- Accessible overviews of work of key thinkers such as Galileo, Einstein and Mullis
- A new chapter on explanation
- An extended range of easy-to-follow and contemporary examples to help explain more technical ideas
- Study exercises, an annotated bibliography and suggestions of Where to Go Next

Succinct and approachable, Philosophy of Key Concepts outlines some of the most central and important scientific questions, problems and arguments without assuming prior knowledge of philosophy. This enjoyable introduction is the perfect starting point for anyone looking to understand how and why science has shaped and changed our view of the world.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 24, 2016

About the author

Research Interests:
- Philosophy of Science, especially models and the semantic approach, representation and structural realism
- Philosophy of Physics, especially the metaphysical foundations of quantum mechanics
- History of Physics, especially twentieth century

Steve French is Professor of the Philosophy of Science and his teaching and research interests are in the philosophy of science and the history and philosophy of modern physics. He has recently published a book on structural realism (The Structure of the World: Metaphysics and Representation; OUP 2014) and is currently working on a series of papers on monism, dispositionalism and the relationship between science and metaphysics in general. He is also planning to explore further the connections between the philosophy of art and the philosophy of science with regard to the nature of scientific and artistic objects. At some point he is going to stun the world (or not) with a book on Husserl and the phenomenological approach to quantum mechanics.

Steven is Co-Editor-in-Chief (with Michela Massimi of the University of Edinburgh) of The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (http://bjps.oxfordjournals.org/), one of the most highly regarded journals in the field. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Palgrave-Macmillan series, New Directions in Philosophy of Science (www.palgrave.com/products/series.aspx...).

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

[Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

مقدمة مختصرة متميزة في فلسفة العلم!

[Mills College Library]

501 F876 2016