Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

This balanced and up-to-date introduction to the philosophy of science covers all the main topics in the area, and initiates the student into the moral and social reality of science. O'Hear discusses the growth of knowledge of science, the status of scientific theories and their relationship to observational data, the extent to which scientific theories rest on unprovable paradigms, and the nature of scientific explanations. In later chapters he considers probability, scientific reductionism, the relationship between science and technology, and the relationship between scientific and other values. "Succeeds in being a balanced, up-to-date critical survey of some main topics in philosophy of science....In a mixed class of students, which span the range of familiarity with philosophy and science, O'Hear's book is a good choice for the first text to be used, something which tells students what philosophy of science is all about."-- Teaching Philosophy "This highly readable and intelligent book is the best text on the subject in print."--Alan G. Padgett, Azusa Pacific University "A good intermediate level introduction."--James McJ. Robertson, Cogswell College "A wonderful book. It deals with the most interesting issues in the philosophy of science and does so in a most interesting way. It is also accessible to undergraduates."--Wendell O'Brien, Moorhead State University "The book is very well written, nicely organized, and nontechnical. This reviewer knows of no better comprehensive introductory overview of the main problems in contemporary philosophy of science....Highly recommended for any library supporting academic work at any level in philosophy or in any of the natural sciences."-- Choice This book is a balanced and up-to-date introduction to the philosophy of science. It covers all the main topics within the area, as well as helping the student to consider the wider moral and social reality of science. Anthony O'Hear is at University of Bradford.