Representing and intervening : introductory topics in the philosophy of natural science

This 1983 book is a lively and clearly written introduction to the philosophy of natural science, organized around the central theme of scientific realism. It has two parts. 'Representing' deals with the different philosophical accounts of scientific objectivity and the reality of scientific entities. The views of Kuhn, Feyerabend, Lakatos, Putnam, van Fraassen, and others, are all considered. 'Intervening' presents the first sustained treatment of experimental science for many years and uses it to give a new direction to debates about realism. Hacking illustrates how experimentation often has a life independent of theory. He argues that although the philosophical problems of scientific realism can not be resolved when put in terms of theory alone, a sound philosophy of experiment provides compelling grounds for a realistic attitude. A great many scientific examples are described in both parts of the book, which also includes lucid expositions of recent high energy physics and a remarkable chapter on the microscope in cell biology. Title page 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Acknowledgements 8 Table of contents 10 Analytical table of contents 11 Preface 16 Introduction: rationality 18 Part A: Representing 36 1 What is scientific realism? 38 2 Building and causing 49 3 Positivism 58 4 Pragmatism 75 5 Incommensurability 82 6 Reference 92 7 Internal realism 109 8 A surrogate for truth 129 Break 146 Break: Reals and representations 147 Part B: Intervening 164 9 Experiment 166 10 Observation 184 11 Microscopes 203 12 Speculation, calculation, models, approximations 227 13 The creation of phenomena 237 14 Measurement 250 15 Baconian topics 263 16 Experimentation and scientific realism 279 Further reading 293 Index 299 An Introduction To The Philosophy Of Natural Science, Organized Around The Central Theme Of Scientific Realism. Preface -- Introduction: Rationality -- Part A. Representing. What Is Scientific Realism? ; Building And Causing ; Positivism ; Pragmatism ; Incommensurability ; Reference ; Internal Realism ; A Surrogate For Truth -- Break: Reals And Representations -- Part B. Intervening. Experiment ; Observation ; Microscopes ; Speculation, Calculation, Models, Approximations ; The Creation Of Phenomena ; Measurement ; Baconian Topics ; Experimentation And Scientific Realism. Ian Hacking. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This 1983 book is a lively and clearly written introduction to the philosophy of natural science, organized around the central theme of scientific realism. The first part deals with the different philosophical accounts of scientific objectivity and the reality of scientific entities. The second presents a sustained treatment of experimental science.