A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

By John Losee

Book Overview

This new edition brings up to date this accessible study of the philosophy of science. Since the time of Plato and Aristotle, scientists and philosophers have raised questions about the proper evaluation of scientific interpretations. A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science is an exposition of differing viewpoints on issues such as the distinction between scientific inquiry and other types of interpretation, the relationship between theories and observation reports; the evaluation of competing theories; and the nature of progress in science. The author makes accessible the philosophy of science to readers who may not have extensive knowledge of formal logic or the history of the several sciences. The third edition incorporates an extended discussion of recent developments. Historicist critics of Logical Empiricism have established that evaluative standards and cognitive aims have changed within the history of science. This edition examines these changes, the recent controversies over scientific realism, casual theories of explanation, Bayesian theories of confirmation, and the search for a non-prescriptive philosophy of science. philosophers have raised questions about the proper evaluation of scientific interpretations. This is a lucid and accessible introduction to the philosophy of science, ideal for readers who may not have the extensive knowledge of formal logic or the history of the several sciences. This new edition includes an extended discussion of such recent developments and controversies as new approaches to evaluative standards and cognitive aims, scientific realism, causal theories of explanation, Bayesian theories of confirmation, and the search for a non-prescriptive philosophy of science.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192892479
• ISBN13: 9780192892478
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.9" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Superb HISTORY

This is NOT a basic introduction to philosophy of science; it is a basic history of the evolution of philosophy of science. As such, it serves its purpose very well.

Superb HISTORY

This is not an introduction to philosophy of science; it is a history of the evolution of philosophy of science. As such, it serves its purpose very well.

As the title says

this is an introduction to the history of philosophical thinking throughout history, not an indepth treatment of ethics throughout history as one reviewer criticised it for not being (something it never stated it was).It is thorough without being overwhelming for someone interested in an introduction to philosopphy, and it is interesting not dry and boring or hard to follow as many philosophy books can prove to be. It is exactly what it says it is and does a good job at it.

A nice little volume

Losse starts with the Pythagoreans, the atomists, and Aristotle. He ends up discussing Popper, Hempel, Kuhn, Feyerband, Lakatos, and a variety of contemporary philosophers. It's densely packed, and for novices to philosophy or logic it might take some effort, but for those with a little background it is easy and, at least for me, fun.