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. 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. Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents Analytical Table of Contents Preface Introduction: Rationality Part A: Representing 1. What is Scientific Realism? 2. Building and Causing 3. Positivism 4. Pragmatism 5. Incommensurability 6. Reference 7. Internal Realism 8. A Surrogate for Truth Break Break: Reals and Representations Part B: Intervening 9. Experiment 10. Observation 11. Microscopes 12. Speculation, Calculation, Models, Approximations 13. The Creation of Phenomena 14. Measurement 15. Baconian Topics 16. Experimentation and Scientific Realism Further Reading Index Пустая страница Пустая страница 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.