Philosophy of science Books

Book Synopsis"Stafford Beer is undoubtedly among the worlda s most provocative, creative, and profound thinkers on the subject of management, and he records his thinking with a flair that is unmatched. His writing is as much art as it is science. He is the most viable system I know.Table of ContentsNot Obtainable.

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Book SynopsisExamining perspectives on time, how and why we measure time as we do, and time in relation to our lives, the author launches a wide-ranging enquiry into this elusive concept. The book looks at time and the universe as a whole, from the "beginnings" of time through to the present.Table of ContentsWhat Do We Mean When We Talk About Time? Clocks and Calendars. Time and Life. Human Time. The Artistic View of Time. A Growing Sense of Geological Time. Geochronometry. Stratigraphy. The Solar System and Beyond. Cosmology. The Philosophy of Time. What Do We Understand When We Think About Time? Further Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisConstructs a fresh approach to a longtime problem for the philosopher of science: how to explain the simultaneous and widespread presence of both agreement and disagreement in science.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface One Two Puzzles about Science: Reflections on Some Crises in Philosophy and Sociology of Science The Consensual View and the Puzzle of Agreement The "New Wave" Preoccupation with Dissensus Two The Hierarchical Structure of Scientific Debates Factual Consensus Formation Methodological Consensus Formation Three Closing the Evaluative Circle: Resolving Disagreements about Cognitive Values The Covariance Fallacy The Reticulated Model and the Mechanics of Goal Evaluation The Reticulated Model of Scientific Rationality Four Dissecting the Holist Picture of Scientific Change Kuhn on the Units of Scientific Change Kuhn's Critique of Methodology Five A Reticulational Critique of Realist Axiology and Methodology Epilogue References Index

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Book SynopsisProvides an account of the knowledge that science provides. This title offers an absorbing discussion of how life works, of the nature of reproduction, aging, and death, and of the necessary fragility of the individual life compared to the resilience of life itself.

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Book SynopsisIn this important new work, Professor Trigg deals with the question of the rational foundations of science. In so doing, he explains and evaluates the views of Rorty, Wittgensteing, Quine, Putnam, and Hawking, amongst others. The limits of science and rationality are explored and the power of human reason is in the end upheld.Trade Review"A book of tremendous importance which must be commended to the widest possible readership." Regent's Review "A wonderful read for practicing the power of human reasoning." Choice "Rationality and Science is tightly argued, well-written, highly accessible to the non-philosopher and compulsory reading for any scientist who wishes to explore the rational underpinnings of the scientific enterprise." Science & Christian Belief "This is a very good book. Trigg performs an invaluable service in tackling complex questions and issues in a way which does not leave the reader struggling. More impressive still is the sheer scope of the discussion. Not only does Trigg present a clear case for his position, but he does so in a way which takes the reader on a grand tour of some of the main currents of contemporary philosophical thought." Metascience "Philosophers of all persuasions will have a lot to learn by reading this book, not only about a philosophical programme, but also about the current debates concerning some hot philosophical issues such as the problem of consciousness, the anthropic principle and evolutionary epistemology." MINDTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Science and Reason. 2. Science and Pragmatism. 3. The End of Reason. 4. Science and Naturalism. 5. A God's-Eye View. 6. Science and Humanity. 7. Science and Society. 8. Can Science Explain Everything?. 9. The Legitimation of Science. 10. Reason and Metaphysics.

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Book SynopsisThis study explores the relation of religion and the natural sciences, focusing specifically on Christianity as a case study. It examines the way in which religions and the natural sciences differ from each other, yet converge on matters of considerable interest.Trade Review"McGrath...provides a detailed examination of the relationship between natural sciences and religion, specifically Christianity"Publishers Weekly, New YorkTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. 1. Starting All Over Again. 2. The Quest for Order. 3. The Investigation of the World. 4. The Reality of the World. 5. The Representation of the World. In Place of a Conclusion: Beyond Conflict. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book Synopsis* Explores numerous issues and positions in the three most basic areas of Philosophy: Theory of Knowledge, Theory of Value, and Metaphysics. * Identifies and explains the Socratic Method, Running out the Permutations, and Rational Dialogue. * Teaches readers to think through philosophical problems.Trade Review"The book is written in a clear, lively, and engaging style. The selection of topics is excellent, and the writing is done in such a way as to directly engage the beginning student in thinking about philosophical issues. Creel does an excellent job of relating basic philosophical issues to the concerns of everyday life. All in all, a superb job." William Alston, Syracuse University "It is clear the book is born of experience in teaching students. Creel addresses objections they are likely to have and engages them right where they are coming from. The book stays focused on 'big issues' in a way that matches up with students' expectations of what a philosophy class should be about." Trenton Merricks, Virginia Commonwealth University "Thinking Philosophically will make a lively and distinctive addition to the introductory literature. The book will allow teachers and students alike to benefit from Richard Creel's own experience as an undergraduate teacher. Strongly recommended." Aaron Ridley, University of SouthamptonTable of ContentsA Preface to Teachers. Acknowledgments. Philosophers in Thinking Philosophically. Part I: Metaphilosophy:. 1. Introduction. 2. What is Philosophy?. 3. Why We Do Philosophy. 4. The Two Most Basic Causes of Philosophy. 5. Reason, Philosophy, and Other Disciplines. 6. Methods for Doing Philosophy. 7. Things Philosophers Do. 8. A Healthy Philosophical Attitude. 9. Alternatives to Philosophy. Part II: Epistemology:. Chapter 10: What is Truth?. 11. What is Knowledge?. 12. Logic - Understanding and Evaluating Arguments. Part III: THEORY OF VALUE:. 13. Axiology and Happiness. 14. Ethics and Morality. Part IV: Metaphysics:. 15. Freedom & Determinism. 16. The Mind/Body Problem. 17. Philosophical Theism. 18. Philosophical Materialism. 19. Metaphysical Idealism. Part V: Parting Remarks:. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis volume aims to help the reader acquire a sense of what philosophy is, how it began, why it persists, and how it is related to other fields of study, especially science.Trade Review"The book is written in a clear, lively, and engaging style. The selection of topics is excellent, and the writing is done in such a way as to directly engage the beginning student in thinking about philosophical issues. Creel does an excellent job of relating basic philosophical issues to the concerns of everyday life. All in all, a superb job." William Alston, Syracuse University "It is clear the book is born of experience in teaching students. Creel addresses objections they are likely to have and engages them right where they are coming from. The book stays focused on 'big issues' in a way that matches up with students' expectations of what a philosophy class should be about." Trenton Merricks, Virginia Commonwealth University "Thinking Philosophically will make a lively and distinctive addition to the introductory literature. The book will allow teachers and students alike to benefit from Richard Creel's own experience as an undergraduate teacher. Strongly recommended." Aaron Ridley, University of SouthamptonTable of ContentsA Preface to Teachers. Acknowledgments. Philosophers in Thinking Philosophically. Part I: Metaphilosophy:. 1. Introduction. 2. What is Philosophy?. 3. Why We Do Philosophy. 4. The Two Most Basic Causes of Philosophy. 5. Reason, Philosophy, and Other Disciplines. 6. Methods for Doing Philosophy. 7. Things Philosophers Do. 8. A Healthy Philosophical Attitude. 9. Alternatives to Philosophy. Part II: Epistemology:. Chapter 10: What is Truth?. 11. What is Knowledge?. 12. Logic - Understanding and Evaluating Arguments. Part III: THEORY OF VALUE:. 13. Axiology and Happiness. 14. Ethics and Morality. Part IV: Metaphysics:. 15. Freedom & Determinism. 16. The Mind/Body Problem. 17. Philosophical Theism. 18. Philosophical Materialism. 19. Metaphysical Idealism. Part V: Parting Remarks:. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe final work of the esteemed philosopher William Demopoulos supplants logical empiricism’s accounts of physical theories, which fail to satisfactorily engage modern physics. Arguing for a new appreciation of the tightly woven character of theory and evidence, Demopoulos offers novel insights into the distinctive nature of quantum reality.Trade ReviewDemopoulos has crafted a thoughtful and interesting interpretation of quantum mechanics that completes his earlier work of the mid-’70s…A wonderful tribute to a very significant philosopher. -- Adrian Heathcote * Metascience *Demopoulos wrote ‘for the eye of God and the good of my soul,’ as he used to say. On Theories is a stunning achievement, a profound argument for a novel thesis about the nature of truth in scientific theories, ranging from case studies about our understanding of molecular reality to Bohr’s dispute with Einstein about quantum reality. -- Jeffrey Bub, University of MarylandOn Theories, a painstaking analysis of the seemingly straightforward concept of theory, takes us on an exciting journey through twentieth-century science and philosophy of science. It critiques naïve dogmas such as the theory/observation dichotomy, replacing them with a nuanced account centered on the notion of ‘theory-mediated measurement.’ On the basis of this account, Demopoulos offers a novel interpretation of major breakthroughs in classical as well as quantum mechanics. Meticulous in its historical analysis and compelling in its philosophical argument, On Theories is a must for anyone interested in science and its method. -- Yemima Ben-Menahem, The Hebrew University of JerusalemWilliam Demopoulos was one of the leading philosophers of science of his generation. An accomplished logician whose mastery of the logicist tradition was unequaled, he was just as productive in contemporary philosophy of physics, especially philosophy of quantum physics. On Theories brings to a stunning close a line of research he actively pursued for the last two decades: the epistemology and ontology of physical theories. This is not only an important book but a rare landmark in the development of the discipline. -- Thomas Uebel, University of Manchester

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Book SynopsisMany scientists look at the universe and conclude we are here by chance. The astronomer and historian Owen Gingerich looks at the same evidence—and the fact that the universe is comprehensible to our minds—and sees it as proof for the intentions of a Creator-God. The more rigorous science becomes, the more clearly God’s handiwork can be understood.Trade Review[A] short, punchy, accessible, and thought-provoking book… What sets this book apart from others dealing with the science–religion debate is that rather than dealing in generalities, the author illustrates his viewpoint by focusing on three case studies related to the work of three scientists, Nicolaus Copernicus, Charles Darwin, and Fred Hoyle. The introduction of personal details concerning these thinkers makes what is already an easy read even more enjoyable and engaging. -- Russell Stannard * Christian Century *A rich volume you’ll want to keep in your library. -- John Farrell * Forbes.com *I thought I knew all I needed to know about these characters—Copernicus, Darwin, Hoyle—who shaped our modern view of the cosmos. Now Owen Gingerich provides new facts and deeper understanding of all three of them. -- Freeman DysonAstronomer-historian Owen Gingerich rebuts the claim made by Stephen Jay Gould that science and religion are ‘non-overlapping magisteria’ with no influence on each other. He does so by carefully analyzing three scientific discoveries whose full significance is only clarified through metascientific assessment. Gingerich’s argument is scholarly, yet the writing is so clear and lively that it is readily accessible. -- The Rev. Dr. John Polkinghorne, KBE, FRSEminent scholar Gingerich shows how religious perspectives have played significant roles in major scientific discoveries and frameworks…This enlightened Christian’s goal is to show that Steven J. Gould’s allegedly non-overtapping magisteria (NOMA), namely science and religion, are actually constantly overlapping…God’s Planet is fascinating in its wealth of information and insights. -- V. V. Raman * Choice *

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Book SynopsisKant sought throughout his life to provide a philosophy adequate to the sciences of his time—especially Euclidean geometry and Newtonian physics. Friedman argues that Kant’s efforts to find a metaphysics that could provide a foundation for the sciences is of utmost importance in understanding the development of his philosophical thought.Trade ReviewFriedman masterfully shows how Kant’s ideas arose from the tension between the empirical success of Newtonian physics and the rationalism of Leibniz and Wolff. The resulting philosophy of science is thick with interpretive knots. Friedman patiently unties each, using lucid presentations of the scientific, mathematical, and logical background to motivate his resolutions. Kant and the Exact Sciences is an exciting and important book. -- Mark Risjord * Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Metaphysics and Exact Science in the Evolution of Kant's Thought PART ONE: THE CRITICAL PERIOD 1. Geometry 2. Concepts and Intuitions in the Mathematical Sciences 3. Metaphysical Foundations of Newtonian Science 4. Space, the Understanding, and the Law of Gravitation: Prolegomena 38 PART TWO: THE OPUS POSTUMUM 5. Transition from the Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science to Physics I The Transition Project and the Metaphysical Foundations II The Transition Project and Reflective Judgement III The Chemical Revolution IV The Aether-Deduction V The Fate of the Aether-Deduction References and Translations for Kant's Writings General Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisGregory shows that the loss of nature from theological discourse is only one reflection of the larger cultural change that marks the transition of European society from a 19th-century to a 20-century mentality, depicting varying theological responses to the growth of natural science.Table of ContentsPart I. The Historical Challenge of Religion and Science 1. Historiographical Approaches to German Religion and Science 2. The Shape of German Protestant Theology in the Nineteenth Century Part II. Nature Retained 3. The New Hegelian Faith of David Friedrich Strauss 4. Otto Zockler, the Orthodox School, and the Problem of Creation 5. Rudolf Schmid and the Reconciliation of Science and Religion Part III. Nature Lost 6. Wilhelm Hermann's Encounter with the Theology of Albrecht Ritschl 7. The Existential Critique of Religion and Science Epilogue: The Future Challenge of Religion and Science Bibliography Notes Index

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Book SynopsisJacopo Zabarella's two treatises On Methods and On Regressus (1578) are among the most important Renaissance discussions of how scientific knowledge should be acquired, arranged, and transmitted. They belong to a lively debate about the order in which sciences should be taught and the method to be followed in demonstrations.

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Book SynopsisR. I. G. Hughes offers the first detailed and accessible analysis of the Hilbert-space models used in quantum theory and explains why they are so successful. He goes on to show how the very suitability of Hilbert spaces for modeling the quantum world gives rise to deep problems of interpretation and makes suggestions about how they can be overcome.Trade ReviewA formidable and intelligent account of the (partial) Hilbert-space formalization of quantum mechanics and the inevitable philosophical ambiguities that result… A marvelous book. -- P. D. Skiff * Choice *The power and elegance of the quantum-mechanical arguments are excellently portrayed and the reader…could not help being impressed by the sheer intellectual beauty of the subject. -- Alastair Rae * Times Higher Education Supplement *[This book] complements the material covered in standard textbooks on quantum theory, in which the issue of interpretation of the theory is too often neglected. -- Eduardo Sanchez Velasco * Science Books and Films *Hughes has written the best self-contained introduction to the foundations of quantum mechanics yet to appear… Hughes is clearly a gifted teacher, and a casual look at the book may suggest that it is primarily a textbook. In fact, a definitive interpretive perspective is developed throughout the book. -- Allen Stairs * Synthèse *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction. The Stern-Gerlach Experiment PART I THE STRUCTURE OF QUANTUM THEORY 1. Vector Spaces Vectors Operators Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues Inner Products of Vectors in R2 Complex Numbers The Space C2 The Pauli Spin Matrices Mathematical Generalization Vector Spaces Linear Operators Inner Products on V Subspaces and Projection Operators Orthonormal Bases Operators with a Discrete Spectrum Operators with a Continuous Spectrum Hilbert Spaces 2. States and Observables in Quantum Mechanics Classical Mechanics: Systems and Their States Observables and Experimental Questions States and Observables in Quantum Theory Probabilities and Expectation Values The Evolution of States in Classical Mechanics Determinism The Evolution of States in Quantum Mechanics Theories and Models 3. Physical Theory and Hilbert Spaces Minimal Assumptions for Physical Theory The Representation of Outcomes and Events The Representation of States Determinism, Indeterminism, and the Principle of Superposition Mixed States Observables and Operators Relations between Observables: Functional Dependence and Compatibility Incompatible Observables The Representational Capacity of Hilbert Spaces The Schrodinger Equation 4. Spin and Its Representation Symmetry Conditions and Spin States A Partial Representation of Spin in R2 The Representation of (Sa) in C2 Conclusion 5. Density Operators and Tensor-Product Spaces Operators of the Trace Class Density Operators Density Operators on C2 Pure and Mixed States The Dynamical Evolution of States Gleason's Theorem Composite Systems and Tensor-Product Spaces The Reduction of States of Composite Systems Part II The Interpretation of Quantum Theory 6. The Problem of Properties Properties, Experimental Questions, and the Dispersion Principle The EPR Argument Bohm's Version of the EPR Experiment The Statistical Interpretation Kochen and Specker's Example Generalizing the Problem The Bell-Wigner Inequality Hidden Variables Interpreting Quantum Theory: Statistical States and Value States 7. Quantum Logic The Algebra of Properties of a Simple Classical System Boolean Algebras Posets and Lattices The Structure of S(H) The Algebra of Events A Formal Approach to Quantum Logic An Unexceptionable Interpretation of Quantum Logic Putnam on Quantum Logic Properties and Deviant Logic 8. Probability, Causality, and Explanation Probability Generalized Two Uniqueness Results The Two-Slit Experiment: Waves and Particles The Two-Slit Experiment: Conditional Probabilities The Bell-Wigner Inequality and Classical Probability Bell Inequalities and Einstein-Locality Bell Inequalities and Causality Coupled Systems and Conditional Probabilities Probability, Causality, and Explanation 9. Measurement Three Principles of Limitation Indeterminacy and Measurement Projection Postulates Measurement and Conditionalization The Measurement Problem and Schrodinger's Cat Jauch's Model of the Measurement Process A Problem for Internal Accounts of Measurement Three Accounts of Measurement 10. An Interpretation of Quantum Theory Abstraction and Interpretation Properties and Latencies: The Quantum Event Interpretation The Copenhagen Interpretation The Priority of the Classical World Quantum Theory and the Classical Horizon Appendix A. Gleason's Theorem Appendix B. The Lyders Rule Appendix C. Coupled Systems and Conditionalization References Index

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Book SynopsisA collection of 28 essays, five previously unpublished, grouped into nine categories: Philosophy, Natural Selection, Adaptation, Darwin, Diversity, Species, Speciation, Macroevolution, and Historical Perspective.Trade ReviewIt is a pleasure to be in the company of a mind so vibrant and still exploring the boundary between the circle of what is known and the vast expanse of what isn’t. -- Lee Dembart * Los Angeles Times *Ernst Mayr is one of a handful of the greatest scientific minds humankind has yet produced… This beautifully presented collection of twenty-eight articles and essays, elegantly introduced and filled with important neologisms all contributing to clarity, is so close to competing with Darwin’s Origin of Species that I would not be surprised if history were to judge that Evolutionism in our century also has a Prophet… In short, this is one great classic. -- Dick Duman * Bloomsbury Review *Mayr’s power to discern biological connections and also to identify the telling example should excite unqualified admiration… Toward a New Philosophy of Biology is a book to be developed, to be argued with, a book whose margins should be filled with exciting scribblings. -- Philip Kitcher * Nature *Mayr is the greatest living commentator on biology; and if biology is what you do, as a researcher, teacher, writer, or as amateur, then this is a book you should own. -- Colin Tudge * New Scientist *Never too far below the surface of Mayr the philosopher or historian lies Mayr the combative scientific streetfighter. It is in this capacity that he has been most creative, informative, and downright entertaining throughout his career; and this book is no exception… If you are at all interested in evolution—as a historian, a philosopher, or, above all, as a practicing biologist—you really should read this book. -- Niles Eldredge * BioScience *Table of ContentsI. Philosophy Introduction 1. Is Biology an Autonomous Science? 2. Cause and Effect in Biology 3. The Multiple Meanings of Teleological 4. The Probability of Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life 5. The Origins of Human Ethics II. Natural Selection Introduction 6. An Analysis of the Concept of Natural Selection 7. Philosophical Aspects of Natural Selection III. Adaptation Introduction 8. Adaptation and Selection 9. How To Carry Out the Adaptationist Program? IV. Darwin Introduction 10. Darwin, Intellectual Revolutionary 11. The Challenge of Darwinism 12. What Is Darwinism 13. Darwin and Natural Selection 14. The Concept of Finality in Darwin and alter Darwin 15. The Death of Darwin V. Diversity Introduction 16. Toward a Synthesis in Biological Classification 17. Museums and Biological Laboratories 18. Problems in the Classification of Birds VI. Species Introduction 19. The Species Category 20. The Ontology of the Species Taxon VII. Speciation Introduction 21. Processes of Speciation in Animals 22. Evolution of Fish Species Flocks VIII. Macro Evolution Introduction 23. Does Microevolution Explain Macroevolution? 24. The Unity of the Genotype 25. Speciation and Macroevolution 26. Speciational Evolution through Punctuated Equilibria IX. Historical Perspective Introduction 27. On Weismann's Growth as an Evolutionist 28. On the Evolutionary Synthesis and After Index

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Book SynopsisDespite an enduring belief that science should be taught, there has been no enduring consensus about how or why. This is especially true when it comes to teaching scientific process. John Rudolph shows that how we think about and teach science will either sustain or thwart future innovation, and determine how science is perceived by the public.Trade ReviewScientific research has changed a great deal over the past century, but the ways that students have learned about science have changed even more dramatically. In this engaging and wide-ranging study, historian John Rudolph traces enormous pedagogical shifts, the aspirations behind them, and why they matter for scientists and citizens today. -- David Kaiser, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyRudolph is…laser focused on the ‘how’ of the science classroom—how its practice varies across time, how its meaning is debated by reformers, and how its role in education shifts as schools themselves change. And for that discussion there is no better guide. -- Christopher J. Phillips * Science *Rudolph’s excellent description of early science instruction is especially relevant today because we have not advanced much in this regard. We are frankly miserable at teaching science to students, even in the face of the most momentous technological achievements in human history…We must, as Rudolph encourages us, modify our errors in science education, emphasizing its absolute relevance to our existence. -- Jennifer Schnellmann * Times Higher Education *Why should we teach science? And how should we teach it? John Rudolph provides our first thorough history of the many ways that American educators have imagined—and instructed—science over the past century. At a moment when ‘STEM’ fields have become almost a fetish in American culture and education, I hope we can pause long enough to ask ourselves why. Nobody will be able to frame a good answer without first consulting this masterful book. -- Jonathan Zimmerman, University of PennsylvaniaHow We Teach Science is a provocative interrogation into the teaching of the scientific method. Weaving a tapestry of influences on policy and practice, John Rudolph delivers an insightful historical examination of the oscillating institutional goals for science education, highlighting social tensions surrounding teaching the natural sciences during the twentieth century. -- Richard Duschl, Southern Methodist UniversityOffers insight into science education’s gradual transition from the laboratory method of the late 19th century to the current Next Generation Science Standards…Importantly, Rudolph also examines how these methods have variously failed to contribute to scientific literacy and how educators and reformers might move forward in the future. * Choice *Well researched and informative…Anyone interested in science education and public policy should find much of value…No program for reshaping science teaching should be attempted without a solid knowledge of what has gone before. For that knowledge, you are unlikely to find a better source than Rudolph’s book. -- Patrick Lufkin * Technical Communication *An engaging narrative…Rudolph reminds the reader that how science is taught has important social consequences. -- Maria Kolovou * Science & Education *

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Book SynopsisPhilosopher John Campbell argues that humans are unique in our ability to imagine singular causation. While robots and nonhuman animals rely on general axioms concerning what causes what, humans can imagine the specific causes of specific outcomes. This suggests that even lifelike artificial intelligence will never truly empathize with humans.Trade ReviewI found this book highly engaging. The parts about Karl Jaspers and social robots are packed with insights that will make you nod and smile. Campbell argues that singular causation in the mind cannot be analyzed in terms of general causation, but instead is brought to light by human practices that rely on our imaginative understanding of ‘the ballistics of people’s thoughts and feelings.’ These practices include attempts to reach legal verdicts beyond a reasonable doubt about people’s motives. The book is accessible, it discusses a range of long-standing philosophical problems about action and interpretation, and no one will drown in technical details. It’s simply fantastic. -- Susanna Siegel, Harvard UniversityThere is a simplicity and directness with which John Campbell introduces and pursues material that has become cluttered and blocked in much philosophical discussion that has lost sight of the fundamental problems motivating such discussion in the first place. Causation in Psychology offers genuine, true solutions that should change the philosophical landscape for good. A fascinating, deeply original book. -- Bill Brewer, King’s College London

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Book SynopsisHere the philosopher and physicist David Z Albert argues, among other things, that the difference between past and future can be understood as a mechanical phenomenon of nature and that quantum mechanics makes it impossible to present the entirety of what can be said about the world as a narrative of “befores” and “afters.”Trade ReviewValuable for readers seriously interested in scientific metaphysics… Albert offers a piercing analysis of modern physics. -- David Kordahl * Los Angeles Review of Books *This work will influentially speak [to advanced students in both philosophy and physics]. -- P. D. Skiff * Choice *After Physics consists of eight brilliant essays in Albert’s inimitable style exploring connections between fundamental physical theories (in particular quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics) and central issues in metaphysics and epistemology. It will stimulate a great deal of discussion among those interested in matters on the border between physics and philosophy. -- Barry Loewer, Rutgers University

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Book SynopsisOffering a fresh take on what brought the world and us into being, Roy Gould helps us see the universe as the master of its own creation, not tethered to a singular event but burgeoning as new space and energy stream into existence. He explores whether life itself rather than a mere cosmic afterthought may be written into the basic laws of nature.Trade ReviewAn engaging book that clearly explains many fundamental concepts in cosmology, astrophysics, biology and chemistry, and is a must-have for all avid popular science fans. * Astronomy Now *There are details throughout Universe in Creation that highlight fascinating and mysterious coherences in the fabric of existence. * PopMatters *Gould…proposes a fascinating thesis about life’s emergence in this eloquent debut… His thought-provoking closing arguments highlight three observations of life: ‘that it is extremely robust across billions of years, that it is extremely diverse across millions of species, and that it is ubiquitous across the planet’s many environments.’ …Readers will appreciate Gould’s erudition and his new way of looking at the universe. * Publishers Weekly *Gould writes the deepest scientific thoughts with the ease of a skilled raconteur…[His] book is filled to overflowing with fascinating, imaginative detail…It is cosmology at its most intricate and explanation at its simplest. A wonderful book. * Queensland Reviewers Collective *The universe could not have dreamt up a better press agent for its story than Roy Gould. From what connects katydids and elephants, through the natural evolution of RNAs, to exoplanets and the Mandelbrot set—the author’s sense of wonder at what is around us is absolutely infectious. Gould’s explanation of how order is naturally created by using disorder at all scales is the best I have seen, making sense of purposefulness without purpose. A joyous romp through a cosmos full of wonders, and changing still! -- Roald Hoffmann, chemist and writerExciting, original, and extremely well written, Universe in Creation offers a philosophically novel perspective on the nature of the universe. -- Avi Loeb, Harvard UniversityWhen we wonder where we came from, or ponder the meaning of our lives, our thoughts might go back to childhood. In his search for meaning, Roy Gould rewinds further to where everything began: the birth of the cosmos. He is the universe’s joyful biographer, recognizing that its story and ours are intertwined, and that one of the most extraordinary things about the universe is that it created beings that can observe and appreciate it. Universe in Creation asks whether or not the universe’s creation of stars, galaxies, living cells, and human beings reveals an unfolding plan. It is a delightful, spirited, and brilliant inquiry. -- Molly Bentley, Executive Producer, Big Picture ScienceA fascinating synthesis…Gould artfully describes various…highlights in universal history, like the formation of stars and planets. Many of these moments are majestic. -- Adam Gaffney * New Republic *In a unique take on the cosmos, Gould makes the case that the emergence of a great many things are not only pre-ordained, but predictable…An interesting read that’s equally, fundamentally sound and correct. -- Ethan Siegel * Forbes *

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Book SynopsisFor 200 million years before humans developed a capacity to reason, the emotional centers of the brain were hard at work. Stephen Asma and Rami Gabriel help us understand the evolution of the mind by exploring this more primal capability that we share with other animals: the power to feel, which is the root of so much that makes us uniquely human.Trade ReviewWith impressive mastery of the scientific and philosophical literature, The Emotional Mind is an ambitious work with sweeping scope and multidisciplinary character. Asma and Gabriel have written an impressively thorough volume, pulling together work in a variety of disciplines to present a detailed picture of the fundamental role of affective systems and processes in perception, cognition, decision-making, and social behavior. -- David Livingstone Smith, author of Less than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate OthersThe power of the emotions in our lives is obvious, yet many people prefer to stress the intellectual side of our species. When philosophers turn to the emotions, as in this fascinating book, something magical happens. We get a far more realistic view of human affairs by grounding our psychology in age-old impulses and strivings. -- Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about OurselvesIn The Emotional Mind, Asma and Gabriel have produced a scholarly work that adds significantly to the current literature. It uses cognitive science to show that affect is the neglected partner when it comes to imagining the construction of the modern human mind. This is a much-needed contribution. -- Antonio Damasio, author of The Strange Order of Things: Life, Feeling, and the Making of CulturesAn admirable accomplishment, bringing together evolutionary and ecological psychology; philosophy of mind and of psychology; and evolution of culture. This book has been called for since affective neuroscience came on the scene, and the foundational claim that emotions are shaped by and shape both internal cognition and the external world will be used to rethink human evolutionary adaptations of all kinds. -- Heidi M. Ravven, author of The Self Beyond Itself: An Alternative History of Ethics, the New Brain Science, and the Myth of Free WillAn ambitious study of the role of emotion in human cognitive and cultural development…Will likely play a significant role in reshaping scientific and philosophical discussions with respect to mind, emotion, and culture. * Choice *A fresh and compelling take on the affective roots of human rationality, cognition, and judgment-making processes. -- Paul Rezkalla * Quarterly Review of Biology *

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Book SynopsisBlends scientific biography, institutional history, and cultural history to show how genetically standardized mice came to play a central role in contemporary American biomedical research. This work introduces us to mouse "fanciers" who bred mice for different characteristics, and to the structures of modern biomedical research.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2004 "Extremely well written and enjoyable to read... The study of human diseases using standardized animal models has now become routine practice, but its acceptability was established in large part through the use of inbred mice, as Rader convincingly argues."--Rachel A. Ankeny, American Scientist "A brilliant synthesis of scientific, intellectual, and cultural history. Its subject matter is new, and the book's ultimate impact on scientific history will be significant. The product of ten years of research and writing, the tome is polished, cogent, and magnificently documented."--Choice "Karen Rader has written an insightful and, at times, humorous chronological history of the famous Jax mice and their unflagging promoter, C.C. Little... Rader beautifully illustrates the give and take between the scientific community and the general society."--Biology Digest "In this compelling historical analysis, Karen Rader shows how the common mouse (Mus musculus) was transformed into a commodity, manufactured, and marketed not only to American research laboratories, but to politicians, health policy makers, and the members of the general public as well."--Susan E. Lederer, Journal of the History of Biology "Rader's carefully researched and well-produced book will be indispensable reading for everyone interested in the laboratory mouse and more generally in the tools and practices of twentieth-century biomedicine."--Soraya de Chadarevian,Journal of the History of medicine and Allied SciencesTable of ContentsIllustrations ix Acknowledgments xiii Abbreviations xvii INTRODUCTION: Why Mice? 1 CHAPTER ONE: Mice, Medicine, and Genetics: From Pet Rodents to Research Materials (1900-21) 25 CHAPTER TWO: Experiment and Change: Institutionalizing Inbred Mice (1922-30) 59 CHAPTER THREE: Mice for Sale: Commodifying Research Animals (1930-33) 97 CHAPTER FOUR: A New Deal for Mice: Biomedicine as Big Science (1933-40) 135 CHAPTER FIVE: R X Mouse : JAX Mice in Cancer Research (1938-55) 175 CHAPTER SIX: Mouse Genetics as Public Policy: Radiation Risk in Cold War America (1946-56) 221 EPILOGUE: Animals and the New Biology: Oncomouse and Beyond 251 Bibliography 269 Index 293

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Book SynopsisArgues that post-traumatic stress disorder is a cultural product put together by the practices, technologies, and narratives with which it is diagnosed, studied, and treated and by the various interests, institutions, and moral arguments mobilizing these efforts. This book includes an account of the treatment of Vietnam veterans with PTSD.Trade ReviewWinner of the 1998 Wellcome Medal for Anthropology as Applied to Medical Problems, Royal Anthropological Institute "Allan Young... would disagree with the notion that [PTSD] has always been with us, arguing that the traumatic memory is a man-made object... His book is a lucid case-study of the way medicine and society have managed to build up this man-made disorder over the past century and a half."--Gerald Weissmann, The London Review of Books "Allan Young has written a splendid and much needed book... Young's book is an invaluable contribution to an emerging and exciting area of scholarship. Intellectually bold, analytically rigorous, and rhetorically compelling, The Harmony of Illusions will both delight and provoke--perhaps even infuriate--friends and foes of the PTSD diagnosis."--Eric Caplan, American Journal of Sociology "The well-researched description of the development of the construct of PTSD within American psychiatric circles makes for fascinating reading as the personalities of the players are presented along with their ideas."--William Yule, The Times Higher Education Supplement "An ambitious and richly informative account of the growth and progress of modern psychiatry itself and particularly of the intimate relationship between that discipline and its broader social and political context. As a model study of the construction of mental illness, this book represents a significant contribution to the history of science and medicine."--Philip Jenkins, American Historical Review "A stringent critique of the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which came into vogue after the Vietnam war... Young's work is scientific in the best sense, i.e., clear, precise, and free of jargon and polemics."--Kirkus Reviews "Young has produced a fascinating book. It is also very timely given current debates, both within and beyond psychotherapy, about trauma, abuse and its recovery."--Janet Sayers, British Journal of PsychotherapyTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction3Pt. IThe Origins of Traumatic Memory1Making Traumatic Memory132World War I43Pt. IIThe Transformation of Traumatic Memory3The DSM-III Revolution894The Architecture of Traumatic Time118Pt. IIIPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Practice5The Technology of Diagnosis1456Everyday Life in a Psychiatric Unit1767Talking about PTSD2248The Biology of Traumatic Memory264Conclusion287Notes291Works Cited299Index321

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Book SynopsisChemists have created superconducting ceramics for brain scanners, designed liquid crystal flat screens for televisions and watch displays, and made fabrics that change color while you wear them. This book lets the lay reader into the world of modern chemistry.Trade ReviewWinner of the 1994 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Chemistry, Association of American Publishers "In this very readable and enjoyable book, Ball [offers] a whirlwind guided tour through some of the most exciting topics in modern chemistry, molecular physics, and materials science... Lucidly written ... with an acute awareness of recent advances and an excellent understanding of their intrinsic scientific content."--Physics World "A tour de force of popular science writing."--John Postgate, The Times Literary Supplement "This book is like a clean fresh breeze, and puts the image of chemistry back into proper perspective... [It] should be used ... to help convey to students ... enthusiasm for modern research."--Rudolph Fahnenstich, Angewandte Chemie "It covers almost every possible recent development in chemistry in just the right amount of detail... The old disciplines of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry of the stuffy textbooks are ploughed over and a new patchwork of fields created to fill their place."--David Bradley, New ScientistTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroducton: Engineering the Elements3Ch. 1How It All Fits Together: The architecture of molecules13Ch. 2Bringing Down the Barriers: Getting chemical reactions to go54Ch. 3Caught in the Act: Watching atoms dance83Ch. 4Impossible Order: When atoms meet geometry111Ch. 5Perfect Hosts and Welcome Guests: Molecules that recognize each other and build themselves145Ch. 6Metals from Molecules: Electronics goes organic186Ch. 7A Soft and Sticky World: The self-organizing magic of colloid chemistry216Ch. 8Chemical Beginnings: How chemistry came to life259Ch. 9Far from Stable: Fractals, chaos, and complexity in chemistry290Ch. 10Transforming the Globe: The crises of atmospheric chemistry323Bibliography351Index365

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Book SynopsisExamines how advances in philosophy were led by scientific discoveries - the more humankind understood about the physical world, the more curious we became. Drawing on work by Descartes, Galileo, Hume, Kant, Leibniz, and Newton, this book helps readers understand science through the lens of philosophy.Trade Review"The translation has long been out of print, so this recent publication, with a very fine introduction by Frank Wilczek, is to be highly valued... Weyl's Philosophy of Mathematics and Natural Science should be on every mathematician's or physicist's bookshelf... What a pleasure, what a privilege, to read and contemplate Hermann Weyl's monumental achievements."--Jeremy Butterfield, Physics Today "[W]e remain ever grateful that Hermann Weyl, compromising his conscience to the extent that he did, left behind this unrivaled treasure of insights into the murkiest epistemological depths of mathematics and theoretical physics."--Thomas Ryckman, Metascience

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Book SynopsisOffers an examination of Leibniz's deep and complex engagement with the empirical life sciences of his day, in areas as diverse as medicine, physiology, taxonomy, generation theory, and paleontology. This title shows how these wide-ranging pursuits were not only central to Leibniz's philosophical interests.Trade Review"Smith thus offers a broader historical context than the title suggests. But with Divine Machines, Leibniz himself emerges as a fascinating example of the early modern obsession with the grand questions about life, and is for this reason certainly of interest to historians of science and medicine."--Stephanie Eichberg, British Journal for the History of Science "Smith's ... book affords quite a number of innovative analyses and is due to become a landmark of Leibniz studies."--Francois Duchesneau, HOPOS: Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science "Even in the instances where the reader's doubts linger, Smith's scholarship makes a convincing case and one is required to look anew at Leibniz's most well known commitments. For the contributions it makes in our understandings of Leibniz and for the way in which Leibniz is integrated in the emergence of the life sciences, Divine Machines is highly recommended reading."--Lea F. Schweitz, AestimatioTable of ContentsAbbreviations ix Preface xi Introduction 1 Part One: First Things Chapter One: "Que les philosophes medicinassent": Leibniz's Encounter withMedicine and Its Experimental Context 25 Chapter Two: The "Hydraulico-Pneumatico-Pyrotechnical Machine of Quasi-Perpetual Motion": Leibniz on Animal Economy 59 Part Two: From Animal Economyto Subtle Anatomy Chapter Three: Organic Bodies, Part I: Nature and Structure 97 Chapter Four: Organic Bodies, Part II: Context and Legacy 137 Part Three: The Origins of Organic Form Chapter Five:The Divine Preformation of Organic Bodies 165 Chapter Six: Games of Nature, the Emergence of Organic Form, and theProblem of Spontaneity 197 Part Four: Species Chapter Seven: The Nature and Boundaries of Biological Species 235 Appendixes 1.Directions Pertaining to the Institution of Medicine (1671) 275 2.The Animal Machine (1677) 288 3.The Human Body, Like That of Any Animal, Is a Sort of Machine (1680-86) 290 4.On Writing the New Elements of Medicine (1682-83) 297 5.On Botanical Method (1701) 303 Notes 311 Bibliography 357 Index 375

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Book SynopsisHugh Everett III was an American physicist best known for his many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, which formed the basis of his PhD thesis at Princeton University in 1957. This book presents the long and short versions of Everett's thesis along with a collection of his explanatory writings and correspondence.Trade Review"What can be said without dispute is that the present editors have done an excellent job in presenting the available material. Their book can be highly recommended to physicists in each of the two parallel branches of the mental universe!"--Peter J. Bussey, Contemporary Physics "This book will be very useful for historians as well any philosophers working on the development of interpretations of quantum theory."--K.-E. Hellwig, Zentralblatt MATH "[T]he book is a mandatory read for anyone interested in the history of the philosophy of quantum mechanics. The editors have skillfully grouped the material according to both chronological order and topical concern, and have added a fair amount of useful annotation, assisting the reader without being overly intrusive. Short but expertly written introductions provide necessary context on the biographical and conceptual dimensions. The book is also a fascinating and rewarding read."--Tilman Sauer, British Journal for the History of Science "In sum: Spinoza's metaphysics has returned in the work of Hugh Everett as physics--as a complete and consistent interpretation of QM that resolves the traditional puzzles of the standard interpretation."--Sheldon Richmond, Philosophy in ReviewTable of ContentsPREFACE xi PART I INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER 1: General Introduction 3 Everett and His Project 3 Everett's Target: The Measurement Problem 5 CHAPTER 2: Biographical Introduction 9 Basement Treasure 9 Life of Everett: The Short Story 10 Origins of the Theory 11 To Split or Not To Split 17 Operations Research 19 The Theory Matures 21 CHAPTER 3: Conceptual Introduction 26 The Quantum Measurement Problem 27 Everett's Proposed Resolution 34 Interpretations of Everett 37 On the Faithful Interpretation of Everett 50 PART II THE EVOLUTION OF THE THESIS 55 CHAPTER 4: Minipaper: Objective versus Subjective Probability (1955) 57 CHAPTER 5: Minipaper: Quantitative Measure of Correlation (1955) 61 CHAPTER 6: Minipaper: Probability in Wave Mechanics (1955) 64 CHAPTER 7: Correspondence: Wheeler to Everett (1955) 71 CHAPTER 8: Long Thesis: Theory of the Universal Wave Function (1956) 72 Introduction 72 Probability, Information, and Correlation 80 Quantum Mechanics 95 Observation 117 Supplementary Topics 133 Discussion 151 Appendix I 159 Appendix II: Remarks on the Role of Theoretical Physics 168 CHAPTER 9: Short Thesis: "Relative State" Formulation of Quantum Mechanics (1957) 173 Introduction 175 Realm of Applicability of the Conventional or "External Observation" Formulation of Quantum Mechanics 175 Quantum Mechanics Internal to an Isolated System 178 Concept of Relative State 179 Observation 183 Discussion 196 CHAPTER 10: Wheeler Article: Assessment of Everett's "Relative State" Formulation of Quantum Theory (1957) 197 PART III THE COPENHAGEN DEBATE 203 CHAPTER 11: Correspondence: Wheeler and Everett (1956) 205 Wheeler to Everett, May 22, 1956 205 Wheeler Notes on Conversation with Petersen, May 3, 1956 207 Wheeler to Everett, May 26, 1956 211 Wheeler to Everett, September 17, 1956 212 CHAPTER 12: Correspondence: Wheeler, Everett, and Stern (1956) 214 Stern to Wheeler, May 20, 1956 215 Wheeler to Stern, May 25, 1956 219 Wheeler to Everett, May 25, 1956 223 CHAPTER 13: Correspondence: Groenewold to Everett (1957) 225 Groenewold to Everett and Wheeler, April 11, 1957 226 CHAPTER 14: Correspondence: Everett and Wiener (1957) 231 Wiener to Wheeler, April 9, 1957 231 Everett to Wiener, May 31, 1957 234 CHAPTER 15: Correspondence: Everett and Petersen (1957) 236 Petersen to Everett, April 24, 1957 236 Everett to Petersen, May 31, 1957 238 CHAPTER 16: Correspondence: Everett and DeWitt (1957) 241 DeWitt to Wheeler, May 7, 1957 242 Everett to DeWitt, May 31, 1957 252 CHAPTER 17: Correspondence: Everett and Frank (1957) 257 Everett to Frank, May 31, 1957 257 Frank to Everett, August 3, 1957 259 CHAPTER 18 Correspondence: Everett and Jaynes (1957) 261 Everett to Jaynes, June 11, 1957 262 PART IV POST-THESIS CORRESPONDENCE AND NOTES 265 CHAPTER 19: Transcript: Conference at Xavier University (1959) 267 CHAPTER 20: Notes: Everett on DeWitt (1970) 280 CHAPTER 21: Notes: Everett on Bell (1971) 283 CHAPTER 22: Correspondence: Jammer, Wheeler, and Everett (1972) 291 Jammer to Wheeler, January 11, 1972 291 Wheeler to Jammer, March 19, 1972 292 Jammer to Everett, August 28, 1973 293 Everett to Jammer, September 19, 1973 294 CHAPTER 23: Transcript: Everett and Misner (1977) 299 CHAPTER 24: Correspondence: Everett and Levy-Leblond (1977) 311 Levy-Leblond to Everett, August 17, 1977 311 Everett to Levy-Leblond, November 15, 1977 313 CHAPTER 25: Correspondence: Everett and Raub (1980) 315 Everett to Raub, April 7, 1980 315 PART V APPENDIXES 317 Appendix A: Everett's Notes on Possible Thesis Titles 319 Appendix B: Early Draft Outline for Long Thesis 321 Appendix C: Universal Wave Function Note 324 Appendix D: Handwritten Draft Introduction to the Long Thesis 326 Appendix E: Handwritten Draft Conclusion to the Long Thesis 348 Appendix F: Handwritten Revisions to the Long Thesis for Inclusion in DeWitt and Graham (1973) 355 Appendix G: Handwritten Notes on Everett's Copy of DeWitt and Graham (1973) 364 CONCLUDING NOTES 367 BIBLIOGRAPHY 369 INDEX 375

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Book SynopsisA translation of one the major writings of Wilhelm Dilthey (1833-1911), a philosopher and historian of culture who continues to have a significant influence on Continental philosophy and a broad range of scholarly disciplines. It presents Dilthey's main theoretical works from the 1890s.Table of ContentsPreface to all Volumes vii Editorial Note to Volume ii xi introduction to volume ii xv Understanding the Human World CHAPTER I: Dilthey's Draft for a Preface (1911) 1 Translated by Rudolf A. Makkreel and Patricia Van Tuyl CHAPTER II: Inaugural Speech to the Prussian Academy (1887) 5 Translated by Patricia Van Tuyl CHAPTER III: The Origin of Our Belief in the Reality of the External World and Its Justifi cation (1890) 8 Translated by Maximilian Aue CHAPTER IV: Life and Cognition (1892-93) 58 Translated by Rudolf A. Makkreel and Jacob Owensby CHAPTER V: Ideas for a Descriptive and Analytic Psychology (1894) 115 Translated by Rudolf A. Makkreel and Donald Moore CHAPTER VI: Contributions to the Study of Individuality (1895-96) 211 Translated by Erdmann Waniek Glossary 285 Index 299

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Book SynopsisCan secularism offer us moral, aesthetic, and spiritual satisfaction? Or does the secular view simply affirm a dog-eat-dog universe? At a time when the issues of religion, evolution, atheism, fundamentalism, Darwin, and science fill headlines and invoke controversy, The Joy of Secularism provides a balanced and thoughtful approach for understandingTrade ReviewOne of The New Yorker's Reviewer's Favorites of 2011 "[T]he book valuably works over middle ground, the space vacated by both dogmatic religionists and dogmatic atheists. It is tolerant of, and even interested in, the varieties of religious practice, and maintains an engaged and equitable tone of voice. We might call this the New Secularism... Essays ... by Adam Phillips (on helplessness) and Rebecca Stott (on Darwinian wonderment), make for a nicely prismatic collection, in which the contributors happily pursue their own interests, and are often at their most secular when they're not trying especially hard to be. The book naturally radiates outward from its editorial theme as an ideal medieval town might spread outward--from a relaxed and unpoliced center."--James Wood, New Yorker "George Levine has put together a diverse collection on what it means to be a secularist, with thoughtful essays from philosophers, historians, literary critics, and evolutionary theorists... The essays are literate and sophisticated."--Simon Blackburn, Prospect "In his upbeat Introduction, Levine's own joy in his religionless world is amply manifest. He is rapt in nature, especially birds, so expressions of aesthetic awe and wonder predominate. Secularism is not a fall, he affirms. Or rather, it is a fall, but upward (in Amy Clampitt's words) into the dazzling sun. Is life worth living in a (religiously) disenchanted world? 'You bet!' Levine answers emphatically."--Tamas Pataki, Australian Book Review "This volume ... is a valuable first contribution to an important topic, and will no doubt inspire much more work in this area."--Whitley Kaufman, Philosophy in Review "While avoiding triumphalism, these essays make a powerful case for a secularism that is both intellectually rigorous and heartfelt."--Peter D Smith, Guardian "Demonstrating that a world of secular enchantment is a place worth living in, The Joy of Secularism takes a new and liberating look at a valuable and complex subject."--World Book IndustryTable of ContentsContributors vii Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 George Levine Chapter 1: Challenges for Secularism by Philip Kitcher 24 Chapter 2: Disenchantment--Reenchantment by Charles Taylor 57 Chapter 3: Enchantment? No, Thank You! by Bruce Robbins 74 Chapter 4: Shock Therapy, Dramatization, and Practical Wisdom by William E. Connolly 95 Chapter 5: Freud's Helplessness by Adam Phillips 115 Chapter 6: A Secular Wonder by Paolo Costa 134 Chapter 7: Prehuman Foundations of Morality by Frans B. M. de Waal 155 Chapter 8: The Truth Is Sacred by David Sloan Wilson 168 Chapter 9: Darwinian Enchantment by Robert J. Richards 185 10: The Wetfooted Understory: Darwinian Immersions by Rebecca Stott 205 Notes 225 Index 253

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The authors paint a detailed but dynamic recounting of how general relativity became what it is today." * Nature Astronomy *"Gutfreund and Renn . . . combine years of Einstein scholarship with readability and insight." * Science *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Works by Galileo’s seventeenth-century contemporaries, translated by Stefano Gattei, reveal at first hand the making of his myth in a tumultuous era."---Barbara Kiser, Nature"This book is a major scholarly achievement and represents the first collection and translation into English of the earliest biographical accounts of Galileo’s life . . . The book gives readers many fascinating key insights into Galileo’s life, work and character." * Paradigm Explorer *"This volume is a splendid contribution to Galileo’s afterlife."---Eileen Reeves, Journal for the History of Astronomy"Gattei’s philological and translation work is impeccable and the volume is completed by a rich apparatus as well as numerous historical illustrations. A gem in the editorial market on Galileo."---Matteo Valleriani, Metascience

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The author’s writing is an admirable blend of substantive, hardheaded scholarship and illustrative, homespun cases and examples accessible to many readers."---D.B. Boersema, Choice

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Bedeviled admirably insists on recording the plain history of science. It just so happens that the history of that most rational of human endeavors reads at times like a Gothic tale, one replete with evil geniuses, time travelers and uncanny intelligences lurking in reality’s obscure corners."---Jess Keiser, Washington Post"Thought-provoking and highly readable . . . A welcome contribution to the philosophy of scientific discovery that deserves further scholarly attention."---Jan G. Michel, Science"A brilliant, challenging overview of the myth-driven scientific endeavors that transform human understandings of the world." * Foreword Reviews *"The workings of powerful computers, the processes of evolution, the market forces that drive the global economy. To conceptualize such unseen forces, researchers have long invoked thought experiments involving demons, devils, golems or genies . . . Canales has given us a glimpse into this haunted realm."---Ramin Skibba, Nature"At the very same time that science was said to be demystifying the world, Canales shows us, scientists were populating it all over again with the demonic. . . . [Canales] links her demonology to what she calls 'the audacity of our imagination,' our ability to imagine what does not yet exist or seems as if it cannot be real."---Casey Cep, New Yorker"In this fascinating and informative book Canales treats the reader to a rich feast of scientific demons, tracing their histories and relevance from atomic and molecular physics to computer science and biology, including a chapter on demons in the global economy."---V. V. Raman, Choice"A welcome, in-depth historical investigation of the many functions that demons have played and continue to play in science and technology."---Rawad El Skaf, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book makes an entertaining, engaging and informative effort to tackle a notoriously difficult topic: Albert Einstein's influence on society and culture... [The book] give[s] a rather balanced and authoritative portrayal of the man and his cultural context, while drawing attention to several entertaining sidelights of his life and career."--Daniel Kennefick, American Scientist "This lovely compendium of essays on Einstein's cultural impact is as stunning in its breadth as Einstein was in his science. Among the book's contributors are such luminaries as Lisa Randall and E.L. Doctorow. Browsing through this book is like eavesdropping on the reminiscences of great artists, novelists, historians, and scientists as they discuss their favorite old teachers. How remarkable, then, that they are all discussing the same man."--Seed Magazine "Books on Einstein are scarcely in short supply but much of this collection feels fresh, probably because, astonishingly, Einstein's work is still, at the forefront of physics. But it's also because his life touched so many worlds outside science, including nuclear weapons, Nazi Germany, Zionism and the Arab-Israeli conflict, civil rights and the arts."--Andrew Robinson, Financial Times "A remarkable volume... At turns illuminating and disorientating, this is a book that I can recommend to all those interested in that eternal enigma, Albert Einstein."--Brian Foster, Physics World "There are many books written about Einstein, but this is one of the most important that this reviewer has ever read. This work clearly articulates the complex nature of this man, his thought, and this overwhelming influence on the cultural identity of much of the world, even though it has been over 50 years since his death."--G. D. Oberle III, Choice "The book is correctly advertised as speaking 'to everyone with an interest' in Einstein's work; it makes a wonderful gift. It also marks the way toward a gradual transformation of Albert Einstein as he lived into the Mythos Einstein."--Hubert Goenner, Journal for the History of AstronomyTable of ContentsIntroduction ix PART 1: Solitude and World Chapter 1: Who Was Einstein? Why Is He Still So Alive? by Gerald Holton 3 Chapter 2: A Short History of Einstein's Paradise beyond the Personal by Lorraine Daston 15 Chapter 3: Einstein's Jewish Identity by Hanoch Gutfreund 27 Chapter 4: Einstein and God by Yehuda Elkana 35 Chapter 5: Einstein's Unintended Legacy: The Critique of Common-Sense Realism and Post-Modern Politics by Yaron Ezrahi 48 Chapter 6: Subversive Einstein by Susan Neiman 59 Chapter 7: Einstein and Nuclear Weapons by Silvan S. Schweber 72 PART 2: Art and World Chapter 8: Einstein and 20th-Century Art: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Linda Dalrymple Henderson 101 Chapter 9: Rendering Time by Caroline A. Jones 130 Chapter 10: Into the Bleed: Einstein and 21st-Century Art by Matthew Ritchie 150 Chapter 11: Einstein and Music by Leon Botstein 161 Chapter 12: Seeing the Unseen by E. L. Doctorow 176 PART 3: Science and World Chapter 13: The Assassin of Relativity by Peter L. Galison 185 Chapter 14: Space, Time, and Geometry: Einstein and Logical Empiricism by Michael L. Friedman 205 Chapter 15: Einstein as a Student by Dudley Herschbach 217 Chapter 16: Learning from Einstein: Innovation in Science by Jurgen Renn 239 Chapter 17: Einstein and 'h: Advances in Quantum Mechanics by Jurg Frohlich 257 Chapter 18: Einstein's Unknown Contribution to Quantum Theory by A. Douglas Stone 270 Chapter 19: Einstein and the Quest for a Unified Theory by David Gross 287 Chapter 20: Energy in Einstein's Universe by Lisa Randall 299 Notes 311 Contributors 341 Index 349

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2018 Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal, National Academy of Sciences""Homology, Genes, and Evolutionary Innovation makes a seminal contribution to evolutionary biology. As Wagner argues, his view provides an opportunity for a major research program on the study of novelty as distinct from adaptation."---Carl Simpson and Douglas H. Erwin, Science"There is much information that is good here." * Choice *"The book is beautifully written, in a precise yet conversational and often humorous tone; still, it is not light reading. Like the chocolate tortes of the author's native Vienna, it requires time to savor. Buy it, and find a seat in your favorite library or café in which to appreciate its richness."---J. A. Bolker, Evolution and Development"This is a book I've waited for all of my professional life (plus a bit--I'm 80)."---Gorkana Group, Biologist"[A]s a treatise on the homology concept in relation to evolutionary morphological novelties, we cannot think of a better current treatment. We congratulate the author for having written a truly inspiring book that will influence the field for many years to come."---Lennart Olsson, Systematic Biology"It is with great pleasure that readers may learn in the pages of Günter Wagner's book how to solve such recalcitrant de Beerian puzzles by their own, guided by the author's expertise both as a gifted philosopher and first rank scientist. . . . Wagner's beautifully written four hundred and twenty five pages are full of important qualifications of the framework and excellent illustrations of each and every of the author's points."---Guillermo Lorenzo González, Theorema"Deeply thought provoking. . . . This survey of homology in the light of modern genetic research . . . is timely and helpful."---Peter Moore, The Bulletin

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Suzanne J. Levinson Prize, History of Science Society""Shortlisted for the Pickstone Prize, British Society for the History of Science""A multifaced and original discussion of the curious life of the 'killer ape' theory within American culture."---Marcia Holmes, Times Higher Education"Coupling her study with research shifting from humankind’s inclination for violence to their more destructive treatment of the environment will reveal that those same factors will continue to remain progressive."---G. Donato, Choice Reviews"[A] fascinating and very well-documented account of disputes about human nature. . . . A major work like Creatures of Cain: The Hunt for Human Nature in Cold War America informs and intrigues, it raises questions, and points to avenues of more research. [Erika] Milam is to be congratulated."---Michael Ruse, The Quarterly Review of Biology"Milam’s book . . . is deeply researched as well as lucidly written. . . . Historians will find much to reward them in Creatures of Cain. . . . Historians broadly interested in the social and political landscapes of mid-century U.S. intellectual life will value Milam’s book for its deft interweaving of science, public intellectualism, and American social and political anxieties"---Joy Rohde, American Historical Review"Milam has made a significant and innovative contribution to the historiography of anthropology . . . . A novel perspective on anthropology’s impact and influence."---Robert Hancock, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute"A tour de force, a historical study that offers a well-researched, meticulous examination of how a diverse community of scientists debated the meaning of human nature in the United States after World War II."---Michal Shapira, Isis"Creatures of Cain brings to light the ways in which the circulation of knowledge actually took place."---Marianne Sommer, Journal of the History of Biology"Erika Lorraine Milam’s Creatures of Cain is an exemplary work in the cultural history of modern science. The research is thorough, the material fascinating, the writing lucid and, at times, gripping."---Alex Aylward, Birkhauser (N.T.M)"Creatures of Cain is likely to become a classic in history of science studies. The work is beautifully written and has layers of rich detail, much of which could be mined for gaining insights on contemporary debates."---Roger Chapman, Cercles

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Physicist Hanoch Gutfreund and historian Jürgen Renn provide a sparky commentary."---Andrew Robinson, Nature"[Einstein on Einstein] provides context, commentary, and background and explores Einstein’s thinking, theories, and contributions."---Dan Aubrey, U.S. 1"The opportunity to read Einstein’s musings, interpreted by two current leaders in Einstein studies, is valuable to all interested in the history or philosophy of physics as well as in Einstein himself."---Jay Paschoff, The Key Reporter"The main commentaries give hugely valuable insights into the development of Einstein’s thinking and how he positioned himself with respect to his predecessors and contemporaries."---David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer ​​​​​​​

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Book SynopsisA fundamentally new approach to the history of science and technologyThis book presents a new way of thinking about the history of science and technology, one that offers a grand narrative of human history in which knowledge serves as a critical factor of cultural evolution. Jurgen Renn examines the role of knowledge in global transformations gTrade Review"[Renn’s] new tour de force, The Evolution of Knowledge, addresses all those concerned with science’s fate. . . . In the 1930s, at a moment of existential crisis comparable to today’s, [Edmund] Husserl likewise sought to reorient science around shared human experiences and common human needs. Yet Husserl, a notoriously opaque writer, had little hope of communicating his message to the scientific community. With this lucid and accessible book, Renn stands a far greater chance of success."---Deborah R. Coen, Science"This is an important book and one that powerfully advances our understanding of how knowledge operates in society while directly engaging with pressing contemporary issues."---Geoffrey Cantor, Times Higher Education"A global history of knowledge is a breathtakingly ambitious project. . . . Renn faces down the difficulties of crafting such an account with skill and resolve. The result is provocative and challenging."---Joseph D. Martin, Physics Today"In The Evolution of Knowledge, both academics and nonacademics concerned with the state of our planet will find a lot to think with and elaborate on. This erudite, rich, and important book indeed opens conversations rather than closing them."---Raf De Bont, Isis"This book should be required reading for all who consider themselves students of the history of knowledge."---Alfred Freeborn, History of Human Sciences"An inspiring survey of the products of Renn's long career."---Jeremy Trevelyan Burman, Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Foundations of Political Theory Section First Book Award, American Political Science Association""In a post-COVID world where contestation of both science and public institutions is on the rise, Pamuk’s book will remain a central point of reference for institutional theorists in the years to come."---Mikołaj Szafrański, LSE Review of Books"It is not often that we come across a book that comprehensively identifies, addresses and explores the very problems that are currently affecting the daily lives of us all. . . . In the midst of the ongoing controversies surrounding issues like COVID, climate change and genetic engineering (to name but a few), this contribution could not be more relevant or more welcome."---Oliver Dowen, Political Studies Review"Illuminating. . . . Pamuk provides an exceptionally clear and nuanced analysis of many complex issues, and she offers promising institutional proposals for improving the role of scientific research and expert advice in democratic politics"---Mark B. Brown, Perspectives on Politics"Lucid, rigorous, and tightly written. . . . Pamuk has accomplished a great deal of analytical and imaginative work, and as debates about the proper relationship between politics and science continue to develop, Politics and Expertise is guaranteed to remain a touchstone in and beyond the field of political theory."---Matthew Benjamin Cole, The Review of Politics

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Bedeviled admirably insists on recording the plain history of science. It just so happens that the history of that most rational of human endeavors reads at times like a Gothic tale, one replete with evil geniuses, time travelers and uncanny intelligences lurking in reality’s obscure corners."---Jess Keiser, Washington Post"Thought-provoking and highly readable . . . A welcome contribution to the philosophy of scientific discovery that deserves further scholarly attention."---Jan G. Michel, Science"A brilliant, challenging overview of the myth-driven scientific endeavors that transform human understandings of the world." * Foreword Reviews *"The workings of powerful computers, the processes of evolution, the market forces that drive the global economy. To conceptualize such unseen forces, researchers have long invoked thought experiments involving demons, devils, golems or genies . . . Canales has given us a glimpse into this haunted realm."---Ramin Skibba, Nature"At the very same time that science was said to be demystifying the world, Canales shows us, scientists were populating it all over again with the demonic. . . . [Canales] links her demonology to what she calls 'the audacity of our imagination,' our ability to imagine what does not yet exist or seems as if it cannot be real."---Casey Cep, New Yorker"In this fascinating and informative book Canales treats the reader to a rich feast of scientific demons, tracing their histories and relevance from atomic and molecular physics to computer science and biology, including a chapter on demons in the global economy."---V. V. Raman, Choice"A welcome, in-depth historical investigation of the many functions that demons have played and continue to play in science and technology."---Rawad El Skaf, History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences

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Book Synopsisaeo The first comprehensive, critical study of one of the foremost twentieth--century philosophers of science -- Paul Feyerabend. aeo The book will be an excellent introduction to Feyerabenda s work for students in philosophy.Trade Review'This is a brave, direct, competent, insightful and sympathetic exposition of the total output of one of the best-known, most admired, least comprehended philosophers of the second half of the twentieth century. It is a fair critical assessment of Feyerabend's work as intriguing and inspired but as falling short of his goal.' Joseph Agassi, York University, Ontario, Canada 'Preston provides a sympathetic but critical account of Feyerabend's work. The scope is comprehensive and the treatment is fair-minded, sensible and thoroughly professional. The content is certainly better than anything I have encountered on Feyerabend. It can be read by those who have not read Feyerabend and by those whose acquaintance with philosophy of science is limited or non-existent.' William Newton-Smith, Balliol College, Oxford 'John Preston has done us a signal service in charting the chages in Feyerabend's thought and in sympathetically explaining why he thought what he did.' MindTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. Notes on References. Introduction: Feyerabend's Life and Work. 1. Philosophy and the Aim of Science. 2. Meaning: The Attack on Positivism. 3. Theories of Observation. 4. Scientific Realism and Instrumentalism. 5. Theoretical Monism. 6. Incommensurability. 7. Theoretical Pluralism. 8. Materialism. 9. Science without Method. 10. Relativism, Rationalism and a Free Society. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisBruno Latour is among the most important figures in contemporary philosophy and social science. His ethnographic studies have revolutionized our understanding of areas as diverse as science, law, politics and religion.Trade Review"For those utterly bewildered yet enthralled or those who would simply like a guide to take them through the maze of Latour's writing, the work of De Vries offers the perfect answer. De Vries' great explanatory style and the clear guiding lines that the books sets out makes this a very valuable resource for anyone who wishes to study Latour without getting lost." Waterstones AmsterdamTable of ContentsPreface 1 Empirical philosophy 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Making Paris visible 1.3 The path towards 'empirical philosophy' 1.4 The power of addition 2 Science studies 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Sociology of Scientific Knowledge 2.3 An anthropologist visits a laboratory 2.4 Anatomy of a scientific paper 2.5 Realism in and about science 3 Science and society 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Pasteurization of France: War and Peace of Microbes 3.3 The Pasteurization of France: Irreductions 3.4 Another turn after the social turn 3.5 The turn to ontology 4 Another social science 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Deploying what makes up the social 4.3 Deploying how the social is stabilized 4.4 Shifting focus 5 A philosophy for our time 5.1 Introduction 5.2 We have never been modern 5.3 The modern Constitution 5.4 Relationism 5.5 Cosmopolitics 6 A comparative anthropology of the Moderns 6.1 Introduction 6.2 A research protocol for a comparative anthropology 6.3 'Empirical philosophy' redefined 6.4 Inquiring 'modes of existence' 6.5 The modern experience: fifteen modes 6.6 Facing 'Gaia' 7 Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDoes the future exist already? What is space? Are time machines physically possible? What is quantum mechanical reality like? Are there many universes? Is there a 'true' geometry of the universe? Why does there appear to be an arrow of time? Do humans play a special role in the world? In this unique introductory book, Dean Rickles guides the reader through these and other core questions that keep philosophers of physics up at night. He discusses the three pillars of modern physics (quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and the theories of relativity), in addition to more cutting-edge themes such as econophysics, quantum gravity, quantum computers, and gauge theories. The book's approach is based on the idea that philosophy of physics is a kind of 'interpretation game' in which we try to map physical theories onto our world. But the rules of this game often lead to a multiplicity of possible victors: rarely do we encounter a simple answer. The Philosophy of Physics offers a highly aTrade Review"A real blast. No other beginner-level book in philosophy of physics provides such a synoptic view of the subject. But what really makes the book fun is Rickles' ability to convey how astonishing these physical puzzles are, in with an informal, witty voice." Craig Callender, University of California, San Diego "A wonderfully insightful and refreshing approach to the philosophy of physics, Rickles' book lays out the philosophical issues in an extremely clear and highly absorbing way, taking the reader on a fascinating journey through the twists and turns that lie at the heart of modern physics. Highly recommended!" Margaret Morrison, University of Toronto "The Philosophy of Physics is impressively written in a fully accessible and lively style." Midwest Book ReviewTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements 1 Interpreting Physical Theories 2 General Concepts of Physics 3 Symmetries in Physics 4 Getting Philosophy from Symmetry 5 Further Adventures in Space and Time 6 Linking Micro to Macro 7 Quantum Philosophy 8 On the Edge: A Snapshot of Advanced Topics Glossary Notes References

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