Philosophy of science Books

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 SynopsisTrees are one of Earth's oldest life forms; silent witnesses to human evolution and the passing of time. Many people today are unaware of their significance in Earth's ecology, their medicinal and nutritional properties, or the veneration bestowed on them by ancient peoples.This book captures all these elements in an inspiring holistic appraisal. Hageneder looks in detail at 24 of Europe and North America's best-loved trees: their physical characteristics, their healing powers, the traditions associated with them and how they have inspired human beings through the ages.Beautifully illustrated with black and white photographs and illustrations.Trade Review'Eloquent prose and deeply perceptive paintings.'-- Cygnus Review'The Spirit of Trees is an attractive, well-illustrated, and rewarding book that explores the relationship between humanity and trees...richly enhanced with photographs, sketches, drawings, and appealing, colorful paintings and watercolors. It is sturdy and attractive and Hageneder coherently presents a wide range of information on trees and related subjects.'-- New Age Retailer'Hagender's passion for his subject and the wealth of scientific fact, historical information, and traditional lore he gathered in the process have resulted in a virtual arboretum of 24 of the most common, best-loved trees of Europe and North America, presented with stunningly beautiful paintings, drawings, and photographs.'-- Kaya Jacolev, Napra Review 'How pleasant to be able to review a book so delightfully informative and thoughtfully inspiring as this one! The Spirit of Trees captures each of these themes in a beautifully illustrated, well printed and fluently written text. This is a book that has been sorely needed. General readers and specialists alike will find much within in its pages for stimulation, reflection and refreshment.'-- Peter Barlow, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol

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Book SynopsisTheories of Emotion is a philosophical introduction to the most influential theories of emotion of the past 60 years in philosophy, psychology, and biology. This multi-disciplinary approach provides the reader with a one-stop shop for encountering the key debates and cutting-edge ideas in what is becoming a central focus of contemporary thought.An introductory chapter on definitions of emotion is followed by three main sections on the way emotions are expressed, subjectively experienced, and related to action and motivation. This accessible but probing approach integrates philosophical analysis with innovative research in psychology and cognitive science, contextualizing current debates in the history of ideas from Darwin to pragmatism. Each section is introduced by a detailed illustration of a foundational thinker's work on emotion (Charles Darwin, William James, and John Dewey, respectively), showing how their insights and discoveries have shaped current views and suggesting wTrade ReviewCampeggiani’s book offers an overview of theories of emotions which combines philosophical depth, empirical grounding, and historical foundations. A rare combination of virtues. It would be an excellent companion for a graduate class on emotions, because of the balance it strikes between covering theoretical basics and mapping the contours of the very latest debates in philosophy and the affective sciences. * Andrea Scarantino, Professor of Philosophy, Georgia State University, USA *This is the best introduction to the philosophy of emotion I have read. It covers an impressive amount of topics and debates in an accessible and engaging manner. It is historically accurate and conceptually precise, while also addressing very recent developments in emotion theory. A must read for any student of emotion! * Giovanna Colombetti, Professor of Philosophy, University of Exeter, UK *Table of ContentsAbout this book Acknowledgments Introduction: Defining Emotions Part I: 1. Expression 2. Alternatives and Criticism: Biology or Culture? 3. Debate I: The Emotions of Others Part II: 4. Experience 5. Alternatives and Criticism: Emotions and Values 6. Debate II: Sense and Sensibility in Decision-Making Part III: 7. Action 8. Debate III: Emotions Towards Fictional Characters Further Readings Notes References Index of names

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Book SynopsisEpicureanism is commonly associated with a carefree view of life and the pursuit of pleasures, particularly the pleasures of the table. However it was a complex and distinctive system of philosophy that emphasized simplicity and moderation, and considered nature to consist of atoms and the void. Epicureanism is a school of thought whose legacy continues to reverberate today.In this Very Short Introduction, Catherine Wilson explains the key ideas of the School, comparing them with those of the rival Stoics and with Kantian ethics, and tracing their influence on the development of scientific and political thought from Locke, Newton, and Galileo to Rousseau, Marx, Bentham, and Mill. She discusses the adoption and adaptation of Epicurean motifs in science, morality, and politics from the 17th Century onwards and contextualises the significance of Epicureanism in modern life. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Atomic worlds ; 3. Knowledge and understanding ; 4. Living, loving, dying ; 5. Material minds ; 6. Religion and superstition ; 7. Politics and society ; 8. Epicurean ethics ; 9. The Epicurean legacy ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisPaul Davies'' The Mind of God: Science and the Search for Ultimate Meaning explores how modern science is beginning to shed light on the mysteries of our existence. Is the universe - and our place in it - the result of random chance, or is there an ultimate meaning to existence? Where did the laws of nature come from? Were they created by a higher force, or can they be explained in some other way? How, for example, could a mechanism as complex as an eye have evolved without a creator? Paul Davies argues that the achievement of science and mathematics in unlocking the secrets of nature mean that there must be a deep and significant link between the human mind and the organization of the physical world. In this quest for an ultimate explanation of the universe, he examines the origin of the cosmos, the possibility of other universes and the claim that we inhabit a kind of gigantic computer. The universe is, he concludes, no mere quirk of fate but a meanTrade ReviewMakes us re-examine the great questions of existence * The New York Times *The greatest achievement of the book is to provide an insight into the nature of science itself and the uncertainties that lie in the physical realm -- John Gribbin * Sunday Times *For those brought up on a diet of Adam and Eve, The Mind of God will make surprising reading * Independent *Table of ContentsPart 1 Reason and belief: the scientific miracle; human reason and common sense; thoughts about thought; a rational world; metaphysics - who needs it?; time and eternity - the fundamental paradox of existence. Part 2 Can the universe create itself?: was there a creation event?; creation from nothing; the beginning of time; cyclic world revisited; continuous creation; did God cause the Big Bang?; creation without creation; mother and child universes. Part 3 What are the laws of nature?: the origin of law; the cosmic code; the status of the laws today; what does it mean for something to "exist"?; in the beginning. Part 4 Mathematics and reality: magic numbers; mechanizing mathematics; the uncomputable; why does arithmetic work?; Russian dolls and artificial life. Part 5 Real worlds and virtual worlds: simulating reality; is the universe a computer?; the unattainable; the unknowable; the cosmic programme. Part 6 The mathematical secret: is mathematics already "out there"?; the cosmic computer; why us?; why are the laws of nature mathematical?; how can we know something without knowing everything?. Part 7 Why is the world the way it is?: an intelligible universe; a unique theory of everything?; contingent order; the best of all possible worlds? beauty as a guide to truth; is God necessary?; a dipolar God and wheeler's cloud; does God have to exist?; the options; a God who plays dice. Part 8 Designer universe: the unity of the Universe; life is so difficult; has the universe been design by an intelligent creator?; the ingenuity of nature; a place for everything and everything in its place; is there need for a designer?; multiple realities; cosmological Darwinism. Part 9 The mystery at the end of the universe: turtle power; mystical knowledge; the infinite; what is man?.

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Book SynopsisBayesian ideas have recently been applied across such diverse fields as philosophy, statistics, economics, psychology, artificial intelligence, and legal theory. Fundamentals of Bayesian Epistemology examines epistemologists'' use of Bayesian probability mathematics to represent degrees of belief. Michael G. Titelbaum provides an accessible introduction to the key concepts and principles of the Bayesian formalism, enabling the reader both to follow epistemological debates and to see broader implicationsVolume 1 begins by motivating the use of degrees of belief in epistemology. It then introduces, explains, and applies the five core Bayesian normative rules: Kolmogorov''s three probability axioms, the Ratio Formula for conditional degrees of belief, and Conditionalization for updating attitudes over time. Finally, it discusses further normative rules (such as the Principal Principle, or indifference principles) that have been proposed to supplement or replace the core five.Volume 2 gives arguments for the five core rules introduced in Volume 1, then considers challenges to Bayesian epistemology. It begins by detailing Bayesianism''s successful applications to confirmation and decision theory. Then it describes three types of arguments for Bayesian rules, based on representation theorems, Dutch Books, and accuracy measures. Finally, it takes on objections to the Bayesian approach and alternative formalisms, including the statistical approaches of frequentism and likelihoodism.Trade ReviewMichael G. Titelbaum provides an accessible introduction to the key concepts and principles of the Bayesian formalism, enabling the reader both to follow epistemological debates and to see broader implications * MathSciNet *Table of ContentsIII Applications 6: Confirmation 7: Decision Theory IV Arguments for Bayesianism 8: Representation Theorems 9: Dutch Book Arguments 10: Accuracy Arguments Challenges and Objections 11: Memory Loss and Self-Location 12: Old Evidence, Logical Omniscience 13: Alternatives to Bayesianism 14: Comparisons, Ranges, Dempster-Shafer

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Book SynopsisHow did science come to have such a central place in Western culture? How did our ways of thinking, and our moral, political, and social values come to be modelled around scientific values? Stephen Gaukroger traces the story of how these values developed, and how they influenced society and culture from the 19th to the mid-20th century.Trade ReviewThis is a remarkable work of scholarship and the fifty-page bibliography is a testament to the author's breadth of knowledge and reading, which forms the scientific basis for his outstanding contribution to the field. * Dr. Arpan K. Banerjee, Hektoen International *The question the author has set out to answer is, on the face of it, quite simple: How is it that science, utterly marginal in Europe's medieval culture, has become central to our modern culture? It is this very question that, for many a historian but also philosopher or sociologist of science, has stood in the background or even at the forefront of their decision to become one. Yet no one so far has had the courage, and the stamina, and the scholarly experience, and the vast erudition, and the organizing power, and the familiarity with a number of indispensable languages that Stephen Gaukroger displays and that are needed to engage the question on anything like the scale it deserves. . . . there are many reasons for profoundly admiring Gaukroger's achievement. * H. Floris Cohen, Isis *This is the much-awaited fourth volume of a series, Science and the Shaping of Modernity, that canvasses the history of science with a keen eye to the broader cultural context.... The erudition and dense attention to detail are breathtaking at times. I marvel to think that one scholar could command so much knowledge of the subject, both primary and secondary sources, and bring to bear such sophisticated philosophical judgment. * Margaret Schabas, University of British Columbia *This is a remarkable work of scholarship and the fifty-page bibliography is a testament to the author's breadth of knowledge and reading, which forms the scientific basis for his outstanding contribution to the field. * Arpan Banerjee, Hektoen International Journal *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations List of Plates Introduction Part I: Civilization 1: Science and the Origins of Civilization 2: The Evolution of Civilization Part II: The Unity of Science 3: The Promotion of Unification 4: The Unity of the Physical Sciences 5: The Autonomy of the Material Sciences 6: The Autonomy of the Life Sciences 7: The Unity of the Life Sciences Part III: The Expansion of Scientific Understanding 8: The Problem of the Human Sciences 9: Understanding the World: Science versus Philosophy Part IV: The Pursuit of Science by Other Means: 'Applied' and 'Popular Science' 10: Technology and the Limits of Scientific Theorizing 11: Science For and By the Public Part V: Science and the Civilizing Process 12: The Modernization of the Population: Accommodating the Human to the Scientific Image Conclusion 13: Science and the Shaping of Modernity Bibliography of Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisPresenting a ground-breaking view of technology trends and their impact on our society, Artificial Era contributes to the current debate about the consequences of technological innovations. Alongside different viewpoints and statistics on the use of robots worldwide, productivity, and job displacement, Gissel Velarde identifies the particular problem of the lack of diversity in AI communities - and how that can exacerbate representation issues in employment, civil rights, gender, and education if no actions are taken.A timely, inciteful book which will be required reading for scholars and professionals working with AI and automation, and leaders in business and government interested in better understanding it and its effects on business and society.Trade ReviewOriginal, informative and easy to read. A good guide for understanding the future and facing it * Carlota Perez, Author of Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital: The Dynamics of Bubbles and Golden Ages *Highly recommended. * Alexis Marechal Marin, Head of the Computer Systems Engineering Department, Universidad Privada Boliviana, La Paz, Bolivia *There are already numerous books on artificial intelligence and its social impact, but Gissel Velarde's book has two characteristics that make it valuable and different. The first is that it is based on some 300 references in its bibliography, which gives it a very remarkable scientific character. The second is that AI is presented from the point of view of a Bolivian woman, who has lived in several European countries, and with a multidisciplinary professional profile. * Emilia Gómez, AI and Music Researcher, emiliagomez.com *A very natural and human vision of this new artificial era. * Isabel Barbancho, Full Professor, Universidad de Málaga, Spain *From the very beginning, the book invites us to think, to reflect, to question; and it does it from the freedom that we have to positioning ourselves in some place of the world of knowledge and reasoning. Is it fiction? Is it reality?...I invite you to read this text without fear or prejudice, enjoy it from beginning to end not only to include it in the reading list of the year, but to reflect, decide and act. * Willy Castro Guzmán, University Professor and Researcher, Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica *Dr. Velarde presents in this book a realistic perspective of the role technology, in particular artificial intelligence (AI), is playing and will play in our lives both at a personal level and at the society level. Instead of focusing only on the potential dilemmas of general artificial intelligence, she discusses important topics including the need for national and international strategies for AI development, as well as the consequences of developing biased AI models in a world with large inequalities (gender, racial, class, etc.). * Carlos Cancino-Chacón, Assistant Professor Institute of Computational Perception, Johannes Kepler University Linz *

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to say that mutation is random? How does mutation influence evolution? Are mutations merely the raw material for selection to shape adaptations? The author draws on a detailed knowledge of mutational mechanisms to argue that the randomness doctrine is best understood, not as a fact-based conclusion, but as the premise of a neo-Darwinian research program focused on selection. The successes of this research program created a blind spot - in mathematical models and verbal theories of causation - that has stymied efforts to re-think the role of variation. However, recent theoretical and empirical work shows that mutational biases can and do influence the course of evolution, including adaptive evolution, through a first come, first served mechanism.This thought-provoking book cuts through the conceptual tangle at the intersection of mutation, randomness, and evolution, offering a fresh, far-reaching, and testable view of the role of variation as a dispositional evolutionaTable of Contents1: Introduction: A Curious Disconnect 2: Ordinary Randomness 3: Practical Randomness 4: Evolutionary Randomness 5: Mutational Mechanisms and Evolvability 6: Randomness as Irrelevance 7: The Problem of Variation 8: Climbing Mount Probable 9: The Revolt of the Clay 10: Moving On Appendix A: Mutation Exemplars Appendix B: Counting the Universe of Mutations Appendix C: Randomness Quotations Appendix D: Irrelevance Quotations

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Book SynopsisThere is ample evidence that it is difficult for the general public to understand and internalize scientific facts. Disputes over such facts are often amplified amid political controversies. As we''ve seen with climate change and even COVID-19, politicians rely on the perceptions of their constituents when making decisions that impact public policy. So, how do we make sure that what the public understands is accurate? In this book, Steven L. Goldman traces the public''s suspicion of scientific knowledge claims to a broad misunderstanding, reinforced by scientists themselves, of what it is that scientists know, how they know it, and how to act on the basis of it.In sixteen chapters, Goldman takes readers through the history of scientific knowledge from Plato and Aristotle, through the birth of modern science and its maturation, into a powerful force for social change to the present day. He explains how scientists have wrestled with their own understanding of what it is that they know, that theories evolve, and why the public misunderstands the reliability of scientific knowledge claims.With many examples drawn from the history of philosophy and science, the chapters illustrate an ongoing debate over how we know what we say we know and the relationship between knowledge and reality. Goldman covers a rich selection of ideas from the founders of modern science and John Locke''s response to Newton''s theories to Thomas Kuhn''s re-interpretation of scientific knowledge and the Science Wars that followed it. Goldman relates these historical disputes to current issues, underlining the important role scientists play in explaining their own research to nonscientists and the effort nonscientists must make to incorporate science into public policies. A narrative exploration of scientific knowledge, Science Wars engages with the arguments of both sides by providing thoughtful scientific, philosophical, and historical discussions on every page.Trade ReviewTo anyone seeking a lively historical tour of the problematic nature of scientific knowledge and our unending struggle to pin down what makes it so valuable, I recommend Science Wars enthusiastically. * David E. Dunning, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia *In a world where 'truth' has become as subjective as beauty, Science Wars is essential reading. A wide-ranging tour de force, this book tells us about the nature of knowledge, leavened with clever asides: Galileo was arrogant, Newton dismissed dissenters, and Carl Friedrich Gauss and Leonard Euler are candidates for the greatest mathematician of all time. All this to say, Steve Goldman is an engaging writer * William L. Silber, Senior Advisor, Cornerstone Research; Former Marcus Nadler Professor of Finance and Economics, Stern School of Business, New York University; and author most recently of The Power of Nothing to Lose *This book is well written and carefully presented. Steven Goldman's focus on the evolution of science from the 17th century to present day provides an excellent lens through which to explore what is meant by scientific 'knowledge.' * Rachel A. Ankeny, The University of Adelaide *Goldman's writing style is engaging and clear as he describes the problem of scientific knowledge and the two major approaches. While reading, I was impressed that he could engage with such important material in such a succinct way * Allan Franklin, University of Colorado Boulder *This is a very useful book...the explanations are clear and accessible. Some of themore historical sections are heavy going, but the effort invested in these sections will be rewarded. I have read the book to write this review but will read it again. There is much to take from it. * David Parker, Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Quarterly Review of Biology *As a summing up of a scholar's lifetime of thinking and teaching, no finer testimony could be imagined than this book. It should be on the mandatory reading list of all scientific aspirants, for the depth of its insights is altogether exceptional and not to be missed by any reader with a deep interest in this subject matter. * J. Lawrenz, The European Legacy *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Knowledge as a Problem. Chapter 2: Is There a Scientific Method? Chapter 3: Was Galileo Right and the Catholic Church Wrong? Chapter 4: Newton and Knowledge of the Universe Chapter 5: Science versus Philosophy Chapter 6: Science and Social Reform in the Age of Reason Chapter 7: What is Science About? Chapter 8: The Knowledge Problem in Mature Science Chapter 9: Scientific Realism and the Romantic Reaction against Reason Chapter 10: Early Twentieth Century Philosophy of Science Chapter 11: Einstein versus Bohr on Reality Chapter 12: In Quest of the Thinker of Science Chapter 13: A New Image for Science Chapter 14: The Opening Phase of the Science Wars Chapter 15: Taking Sides for and against Reason and Knowledge Chapter 16: The Science Wars Go Public References Index

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewCongratulations to Alfred Mele for another outstanding book! Free Will: An Opinionated Introduction is a superb tour through the ins and outs of the debate over whether normal folks have free will. Mele is certainly one of the world's leading philosophers working on the nature of action and the related topic of free will. In this book, he faces the questions of what free will is, the best arguments for why we do not have it, and his own forceful arguments for why, indeed, most of us do have it. This wonderful, accessible book will be interesting and fun to read for any educated person who wants a fair and clear-minded assessment of the current state of the free will debate. I also highly recommend it for use in an introductory college course, or even an advanced high school course. * Michael McKenna, University of Arizona *This wonderful book offers a lucid and entertaining introduction to a classic philosophical debate about a key aspect of the human essence, namely free will. The author is a highly respected and distinguished philosopher himself, and one who has for years scrupulously respected both sides of the debate. Using plain language and vivid examples, the book illuminates why thinkers have come to different conclusions. The title says the book is opinionated, but the author's opinions are judicious, so the reader can appreciate the best arguments on either side, as well as the weak points in each side's arguments. While this is a terrific book for readers seeking an up-to-date introduction to the disputes, seasoned readers familiar with the field will also find much that is new, helpful, and informative. * Roy F. Baumeister, author of The Self Explained: Why and How We Become Who We Are *In this vibrant, succinctly written book, Mele (Florida State Univ.) takes readers on a philosophical journey that provides "a good feel for the interesting issues, options, and arguments that need to be dealt with in any respectable attempt to arrive at a bottom line on free will."...Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; graduate students; general readers. * Choice *Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1. Getting Started Chapter 2. A Straight Perspective on Free Will Chapter 3. Alternative Possibilities, Frankfurt-Style Stories, and the Consequence Argument Chapter 4. A Whirlwind Tour of a Mixed Perspective on Free Will Chapter 5. Exploring a Mixed Conception of Free Will Chapter 6. Some Sources of Skepticism about Free Will Chapter 7. More Skeptical Arguments Chapter 8. Free Will and Neuroscience Chapter 9. Wrapping Things up

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Book SynopsisEpistemology has traditionally been motivated by a desire to respond to skeptical challenges. The skeptic presents an argument for the view that knowledge is impossible, and the theorist of knowledge is called upon to explain why we should think, contrary to the skeptic, that it is genuinely possible to gain knowledge. Traditional theories of knowledge offer responses to the skeptic which fail to draw on the resources of the sciences. This is no simple oversight; there are principled reasons why such resources are thought to be unavailable to the theorist of knowledge. This book takes a different approach. After arguing that appeals to science are not illegitimate in responding to skepticism, this book shows how the sciences offer an illuminating perspective on traditional questions about the nature and possibility of knowledge. This book serves as an introduction to a scientifically informed approach to the theory of knowledge. This book is a vital resource for students and scholars iTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface 1. The Threat of Skepticism 2. The Phenomenon of Knowledge 3. Knowledge from the Outside: The Third-Person Perspective 4. Knowledge from the Inside: The First-Person Perspective 5. From the Individual to the Social 6. Conclusion: Born to Know Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisWhat''s the use of philosophy? Philip Kitcher here grapples with an essential philosophical question: what the point of philosophy is, and what it should and can be. Kitcher''s portrait of the discipline is not a familiar defense of the importance of philosophy or the humanities writ large. Rather, he is deeply critical of philosophy as it is practiced today, a practice focused on narrow technical questions that are far removed from the concerns of human life. He provides a penetrating diagnosis of why exactly contemporary philosophy has come to suffer this crisis, showing how it suffers from various syndromes that continue to push it further into irrelevance. Then, taking up ideas from William James and John Dewey, Kitcher provides a positive roadmap for the future of philosophy: first, as a discipline that can provide clarity to other kinds of human inquiry, such as religion or science; and second, bringing order to people''s notions of the world, dispelling confusion in favor of clarity, and helping us think through our biggest human questions and dilemmas. Kitcher concludes with a letter to young philosophers who wonder how they can align their aspirations with the hyper-professionalism expected of them.Trade ReviewWith an inimitable combination of sharpness, generosity, elegance and wit, Kitcher diagnoses the malaise that many philosophers have long felt about our profession but have been unable to articulate with such breadth and clarity. Perhaps no one has the skills or the standing that Kitcher possesses to do so ... The book pulls no punches in showing how far contemporary philosophy has diverged from its original goals ... Yet Kitcher does not merely lament the ways in which philosophy has abandoned its traditional roles. With characteristic and sympathetic understanding, Kitcher provides a genealogy which shows how so many of philosophy's virtues have turned into flaws ... This will be read by every disaffected philosopher, and may convince many outside it to take the promise of philosophy seriously again. An extraordinary and much-needed book. * Susan Neiman, Einstein Forum, Germany *A spirited love letter to a discipline that enthralls and disappoints in equal measure. Rather than give way to gloom, Philip Kitcher asks us to dream of a philosophy that demands and does more. * Amia Srinivasan, All Souls College, Oxford *This book is challenging in the best sense: indeed, what use is philosophy? But it is also straightforward and charming - and exceedingly persuasive. * Nancy Cartwright, Durham University *Philip Kitcher's new book is a perceptive and uncompromising assessment of trends and fashions and parochialism in contemporary professional philosophy. The antithesis of parochialism is cosmopolitanism and Kitcher is a true cosmopolitan. * Clark Glymour *Urging his fellow philosophers to lift their gaze from narrow technical problems toward issues that really matter, Philip Kitcher's concise, lively book is as exciting as it is important. * Michael Ruse, Florida State University (Emeritus) *Philip Kitcher makes a compelling case for a redirection of philosophy away from what are sometimes called "core areas" and toward issues that are of more interest and value within our general intellectual culture - issues often relegated to the periphery of our discipline. These include, among others, philosophy of the various empirical sciences, moral and political philosophy done in a way that is practically useful, and philosophical engagement with the arts. This book is must reading for anyone alarmed about the future of philosophy and its current tendencies toward scholasticism and irrelevance. A brave and important book. * James Woodward, University of Pittsburgh *In this excellent book...Kitcher has useful things to say how philosophy and science can work together. * Quassim Cassam, The Society *Table of ContentsPreface Chapter 1 - Philosophy Inside Out Chapter 2 - "So Who Is Your Audience?" Chapter 3 - Pathology Report Chapter 4 - The Whole Function of Philosophy Chapter 5 - Letter to Some Young Philosophers References

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Book SynopsisBayesian ideas have recently been applied across such diverse fields as philosophy, statistics, economics, psychology, artificial intelligence, and legal theory. Fundamentals of Bayesian Epistemology examines epistemologists'' use of Bayesian probability mathematics to represent degrees of belief. Michael G. Titelbaum provides an accessible introduction to the key concepts and principles of the Bayesian formalism, enabling the reader both to follow epistemological debates and to see broader implicationsVolume 1 begins by motivating the use of degrees of belief in epistemology. It then introduces, explains, and applies the five core Bayesian normative rules: Kolmogorov''s three probability axioms, the Ratio Formula for conditional degrees of belief, and Conditionalization for updating attitudes over time. Finally, it discusses further normative rules (such as the Principal Principle, or indifference principles) that have been proposed to supplement or replace the core five.Volume 2 gives arguments for the five core rules introduced in Volume 1, then considers challenges to Bayesian epistemology. It begins by detailing Bayesianism''s successful applications to confirmation and decision theory. Then it describes three types of arguments for Bayesian rules, based on representation theorems, Dutch Books, and accuracy measures. Finally, it takes on objections to the Bayesian approach and alternative formalisms, including the statistical approaches of frequentism and likelihoodism.Table of ContentsQuick Reference Preface I Our Subject 1: Beliefs and Degrees of Belief II The Bayesian Formalism 2: Probability Distributions 3: Conditional Credences 4: Updating by Conditionalization 5: Further Rational Constraints

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A Survey of Metaphysics provides a systematic overview of modern metaphysics, covering all of the most important topics likely to be encountered on a metaphysics course. The conception of metaphysics underlying the book is the fairly traditional and widely-shared one that metaphysics deals with the deepest questions that can be raised concerning the fundamental structure of reality as a whole. The book is divided into six main parts, each relatively self-contained, focusing in turn on the following major themes: identity and change, necessity and essence, causation, agency and events, space and time, and universals and particulars. In an introductory chapter, the conception of metaphysics underlying the book is explained and defended against the many and varied opponents of metaphysics those students are likely to encounter. While the book makes reference when necessary to the history of metaphysics, its emphasis is on contemporary views and issues. The author''s approach is not narrow

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Book SynopsisIt''s standard in epistemology to approach questions about knowledge and rational belief using idealized, simplified models. But while the practice of constructing idealized models in epistemology is old, metaepistemological reflection on that practice is not. Greco argues that the fact that epistemologists build idealized models isn''t merely a metaepistemological observation that can leave first-order epistemological debates untouched. Rather, once we view epistemology through the lens of idealization and model-building, the landscape looks quite different.Constructing idealized models is likely the best epistemologists can do. Once one starts using epistemological categories like belief, knowledge, and confidence, the realm of idealization and model-building is entered. We can object to a model of knowledge by pointing to a better model, but in the absence of a better model, the fact that a framework for epistemologizing theorizing involves simplifications, approximations, and other inaccuracies-the fact of its status as an idealized model-is not in itself objectionable. Once we accept that theorizing in epistemological terms is inescapably idealized, a number of intriguing possibilities open up. Greco defends a package of epistemological views that might otherwise have looked indefensibly dismissive of our cognitive limitations-a package according to which we know a wide variety of facts with certainty, including what our evidence is, what we know and don''t know, and what follows from our knowledge.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1: Idealization and Modeling 2: Modest Modeling 3: Modeling With Possible Worlds 4: Certainty and Undercutting 5: Belief and Credence 6: Inter-Level Coherence 7: Common Knowledge 8: Ideal and Non-Ideal Epistemology Bibliography

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Book Synopsis''Grayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects'' Steven Pinker_________________________In very recent times humanity has learnt a vast amount about the universe, the past, and itself. But through our remarkable successes in acquiring knowledge we have learned how much we have yet to learn: the science we have, for example, addresses just 5 per cent of the universe; pre-history is still being revealed, with thousands of historical sites yet to be explored; and the new neurosciences of mind and brain are just beginning. What do we know, and how do we know it? What do we now know that we don''t know? And what have we learnt about the obstacles to knowing more? In a time of deepening battles over what knowledge and truth mean, these questions matter more than ever. Bestselling polymath and philosopher A. C. Grayling seeks to answer them in three crucial areas at the frontiers of knowledge: science, history and psychology. A remarkTrade ReviewGrayling brings satisfying order to daunting subjects -- Steven PinkerRemarkable, readable and authoritative. How he has mastered so much, so thoroughly, is nothing short of amazing -- Lawrence M. Krauss, author of A Universe from NothingThis book hums with the excitement of the great human project of discovery -- Adam Zeman, author of AphantasiaProf. Grayling interweaves the recent scientific and archaeological advances into a compelling narrative of how much progress humans have made in the understanding of their place in the natural, social and cognitive worlds. And how ignorant we still remain providing strong motivation to further this understanding by new empirical evidence -- Tejidner Virdee FRSAC Grayling tackles the questions science can't answer... a breathtaking book... Scholarly, lucid and accessible without being patronising or diluting, Grayling offers a masterly exegesis of current knowledge in three disciplines, as well as an analysis of what both opens and obstructs our access to such knowledge - in effect, four books in one -- Jane O'Grady * The Telegraph *An enthusiastic thinker who embraces humour, common sense and lucidity * Independent *

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Book SynopsisWhat is life? This is among the most difficult open problems in science, right up there with the nature of consciousness and the existence of matter. All the definitions we have fall short. None help us understand how life originates or the full range of possibilities for what life on other planets might look like.In LIFE AS NO ONE KNOWS IT, physicist and astrobiologist Sara Imari Walker argues that solving the origin of life requires radical new thinking and an experimentally testable theory for what life is. This is an urgent issue for efforts to make life from scratch in laboratories here on Earth and missions searching for life on other planets.Walker proposes a new paradigm for understanding what physics encompasses and what we recognize as life. She invites us into a world of maverick scientists working without a map, seeking not just answers but better ways to formulate the biggest questions we have about the universe. The book culminates with the bold proposal of a new theory for identifying and classifying life, one that applies not just to biological life on Earth but to any instance of life in the universe. Rigorous, accessible, and vital, LIFE AS NO ONE KNOWS IT celebrates the mystery of life and the explanatory power of physics.

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Book SynopsisInference to the Best Explanation is an unrivalled exposition of a theory of particular interest to students both of epistemology and the philosophy of science.Trade ReviewPraise for the First Edition: '[Lipton's] book marks a real advance. It deserves to be read by all philosophers interested in the theory of knowledge and the philosophy of science.' - Mind'The first edition of Peter Lipton's Inference to the Best Explanation, which appeared in 1991, is a modern classic in the philosophy of science. Yet in the second edition of the book, Lipton proves that even a classic can be improved ... a 'must' read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of inductive inference, broadly understood.' – Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews'Peter Lipton's excellent book approaches the descriptive task with imagination and style. Lipton argues persuasively that an understanding of the workings of contrastive explanation can yield insight into our inferential practices.' - Times Literary Supplement'Lipton makes valuable contributions with respect to any number of important questions in epistemology and philosophy of science. Anyone with more than a passing interest in these fields will find his book indispensable.' - The Philosophical Review'Interesting and challenging ... those who relish clear and thorough philosophical discussion will find this book very rewarding. I did.' - Meta Science'This excellent book .. [offers] significant clarity ... in the quest to understand our non-demonstrative inferences.' –The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science'The first edition of Peter Lipton's Inference to the Best Explanation, which appeared in 1991, is a modern classic in the philosophy of science. Yet in the second edition of the book, Lipton proves that even a classic can be improved ... a 'must' read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of inductive inference, broadly understood.' – Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews'Peter Lipton's excellent book approaches the descriptive task with imagination and style. Lipton argues persuasively that an understanding of the workings of contrastive explanation can yield insight into our inferential practices.' – Times Literary Supplement'Lipton makes valuable contributions with respect to any number of important questions in epistemology and philosophy of science. Anyone with more than a passing interest in these fields will find his book indispensable.' – The Philosophical ReviewTable of ContentsPreface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Introduction 1. Induction 2. Explanation 3. The Causal Model 4. Inference to the Best Explanation 5. Contrastive Inference 6. The Raven Paradox 7. Bayesian Abduction 8. Explanation as a Guide to Inference 9. Loveliness and Truth 10. Prediction and Prejudice 11. Truth and Explanation Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisEpistemology, or âœthe theory of knowledge,â is concerned with how we know what we know, what justifies us in believing what we believe, and what standards of evidence we should use in seeking truths about the world and human experience. This comprehensive introduction to the field of epistemology explains the concepts and theories central to understanding knowledge. Along with covering the traditional topics of the discipline in detail, Epistemology explores emerging areas of research. The third edition features new sections on such topics as the nature of intuition, the skeptical challenge of rational disagreement, and âœthe value problemâ â the range of questions concerning why knowledge and justified true belief have value beyond that of merely true belief. Updated and expanded, Epistemology remains a superb introduction to one of the most fundamental fields of philosophy. Special features of the third edition of Epistemology include: Trade Review'Without a doubt, Robert Audi’s Epistemology, Third Edition, is the most authoritative, comprehensive, and state of the art textbook in the field. In clear, masterful prose, Audi covers all the main topics in epistemology. No textbook compares. Every student of epistemology – new and old – should read this book.' – Peter Graham, University of California, Riverside, USA 'An excellent introduction to the field, unusually comprehensive, elegantly structured, and accessible. The reader gets a clear view of all the traditional problems and projects and, in this new edition, a cutting-edge treatment of the latest debates about the nature of intuitions, the significance of rational disagreement, and the value of knowledge and justified true belief.' – Ralph Kennedy, Wake Forest University, USA 'Like the previous editions, this new third edition of Audi’s outstanding book is a well-motivated, comprehensive, accessible introduction for students as well as an original, exciting, cutting-edge work of epistemology in its own right. Novices and experts alike will continually profit—and tremendously so—from studying it. It is an ideal text for undergraduate courses in epistemology, and even graduate-level surveys of the field.' – E.J. Coffman, University of Tennessee, USA Praise for the second edition: 'Audi’s introduction is at once philosophically insightful and masterfully written – even more so in its new edition. Guaranteed to fascinate the beginner while retaining its exalted status with the experts.' – Claudio de Almeida, PUCRS, Brazil 'My students like this book and have learned much from it, as I have…Epistemology – especially in its second edition – is simply the best textbook in epistemology that I know of.' – Thomas Vinci, Dalhousie University, Canada Praise for the first edition: 'No less than one would expect from a first-rate epistemologist who is also a master expositor: lucid, comprehensive, well-structured, and excellently informed both by the tradition and by recent developments. A superb introduction.' – Ernest Sosa, Brown University, USA 'This is a massively impressive book, introducing the reader to virtually all the main areas of epistemology. Robert Audi's text is lucid and highly readable, while not shirking the considerable complexities of his subject matter.' – Elizabeth .M. Fricker, University of Oxford, UK 'A state-of-the-art introduction to epistemology by one of the leading figures in the field.' – William P. Alston, Syracuse University, USA 'Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, 3rd Edition is an excellent introductory textbook by one of the world’s leading epistemologists. This textbook would be a good choice for use in advanced undergraduate courses or introductory graduate courses on epistemology because it manages to be accessible enough for advanced undergraduates to follow while being challenging enough for graduate students to profit from closely reading it.' – Kevin McCain, University of Rochester, USA 'Without a doubt, Robert Audi’s Epistemology, Third Edition, is the most authoritative, comprehensive, and state of the art textbook in the field. In clear, masterful prose, Audi covers all the main topics in epistemology. No textbook compares. Every student of epistemology – new and old – should read this book.' – Peter Graham, University of California, Riverside, USA 'An excellent introduction to the field, unusually comprehensive, elegantly structured, and accessible. The reader gets a clear view of all the traditional problems and projects and, in this new edition, a cutting-edge treatment of the latest debates about the nature of intuitions, the significance of rational disagreement, and the value of knowledge and justified true belief.' – Ralph Kennedy, Wake Forest University, USA 'Like the previous editions, this new third edition of Audi’s outstanding book is a well-motivated, comprehensive, accessible introduction for students as well as an original, exciting, cutting-edge work of epistemology in its own right. Novices and experts alike will continually profit—and tremendously so—from studying it. It is an ideal text for undergraduate courses in epistemology, and even graduate-level surveys of the field.' – E.J. Coffman, University of Tennessee, USA Praise for the second edition: 'Audi’s introduction is at once philosophically insightful and masterfully written – even more so in its new edition. Guaranteed to fascinate the beginner while retaining its exalted status with the experts.' – Claudio de Almeida, PUCRS, Brazil 'My students like this book and have learned much from it, as I have…Epistemology – especially in its second edition – is simply the best textbook in epistemology that I know of.' – Thomas Vinci, Dalhousie University, Canada Praise for the first edition: 'No less than one would expect from a first-rate epistemologist who is also a master expositor: lucid, comprehensive, well-structured, and excellently informed both by the tradition and by recent developments. A superb introduction.' – Ernest Sosa, Brown University, USA 'This is a massively impressive book, introducing the reader to virtually all the main areas of epistemology. Robert Audi's text is lucid and highly readable, while not shirking the considerable complexities of his subject matter.' – Elizabeth .M. Fricker, University of Oxford, UK 'A state-of-the-art introduction to epistemology by one of the leading figures in the field.' – William P. Alston, Syracuse University, USA Table of ContentsSelected Contents: Preface Introduction Part 1: Sources of Justification, Knowledge, and Truth 1. Perception: Sensing, Believing, and Knowing 2. Theories of Perception: Sense Experience, Appearances, and Reality 3. Memory 4. Consciousness: The Life of the Mind 5. Reason I: Understanding, Insight, and Intellectual Power 6. Reason II: Apriority, Necessity, and Provability 7. Testimony Part 2: The Structure and Growth of Justification and Knowledge 8. Inference and the Extension of Knowledge 9. The Architecture of Knowledge Part 3: The Nature and Scope of Justification and Knowledge 10. The Analysis of Knowledge: Justification, Certainty, and Reliability 11. Knowledge, Justification and Truth: Internalism, Externalism, and Intellectual Virtue 12. Scientific, Moral, and Religious Knowledge 13. Skepticism I: The Quest for Certainty 14. Skepticism II: The Defense of Common Sense in the Face of Fallibility 15. Conclusion. Annotated Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisAmerican law assumes that individuals are autonomous, defined by their capacity to choose, and not obligated to each other. But our bodies make us vulnerable and dependent, and the law leaves the weakest on their own. O. Carter Snead argues for a paradigm that recognizes embodiment, enabling law and policy to provide for the care that people need.Trade ReviewA rare achievement: a rigorous academic book that is also accessible, engaging, and wise…By sketching out an ethic of mutual obligation rooted in our common vulnerabilities, the book opens a path toward a more humane society…Among the most important works of moral philosophy produced so far in this century. -- Yuval Levin * Wall Street Journal *With insight and provocation, Snead, a bioethicist, examines the questions that abortion raises about the meaning of human life. -- Joshua Prager * New York Times *Illuminates the ways in which our flawed anthropology—our wrongheaded ideas about what it means to be human—negatively affects our bioethics…The lengthy section on abortion alone is worth the price of admission. -- Alexandra DeSanctis * National Review *This remarkable and insightful account of contemporary public bioethics and its individualist assumptions is indispensable reading for anyone with bioethical concerns. Whether you agree or disagree with Snead’s perspective, all will be in his debt for this critical work. -- Alasdair MacIntyre, author of After VirtueO. Carter Snead has written a brilliantly insightful book about how American law has enshrined individual autonomy as the highest moral good. He suggests an alternative foundation for contemporary bioethics, based on an understanding of human beings as social creatures, embedded in mutually dependent physical bodies. Highly thought-provoking. -- Francis Fukuyama, author of Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of ResentmentA book rich in scholarship but for a much wider audience than scholars. The content of our bioethics will shape the course of our human future. That’s what makes this book so valuable. -- Charles J. Chaput * First Things *Snead makes it clear that simply debating the morality of abortion, euthanasia, and assisted reproduction is not sufficient…We have to ground our definitions, debates, and catechisms in anthropology, in what it means to be human. If we are to love and defend our weak, vulnerable, and dependent neighbors, we ought also remember that we, too, will be weak, vulnerable, and dependent someday. This is what being human is, and our laws and policies should reflect it. -- John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera * Christian Post *Faulty anthropology makes for faulty law, especially when the subject is human life itself. Through a meticulous analysis of American legal cases touching the beginnings and ends of life, O. Carter Snead demonstrates how our entire approach to bioethical matters ironically ignores the lived reality and value of human embodiment, pointing the way to a richer approach that will promote social solidarity. A most significant achievement! -- Leon R. Kass, Chairman, President’s Council on Bioethics (2002–2005)What It Means to Be Human belongs on the desk of anyone concerned about the challenges ahead in the field of public bioethics. After taking a hard look at the flawed assumptions that shape most of today’s thinking, Snead outlines an approach firmly grounded in the complexity of human experience. -- Mary Ann Glendon, author of The Forum and the TowerPublic bioethics has for too long labored under the illusion that its purpose is to maximize individual choice. Snead shows how this results in policies that are hostile to human beings as they actually are: essentially embodied, ever dependent on others, flourishing only when loving and being loved. This is required reading. -- Farr Curlin, Trent Center for Bioethics, Duke UniversityOne of the world’s leading bioethicists…Snead issues a thought-provoking challenge to our modern legal regime that is premised upon a misconception of the human person. -- Maureen Ferguson * Daily Signal *Helpfully reframes the major issues in public bioethics. -- Jacob Shatzer * Front Porch Republic *Doesn’t mire itself in the latest bioethics debates, most of which have become dizzyingly complex in the past few years. Instead, it returns us, not a moment too soon, to a discussion of first principles…Advance[s] an anthropological framework for understanding human beings (and for devising laws and policies) that takes birth and death, youth and age, ability and limits—essentially the embodied self—into account. -- Nora Kenney * National Review *[A] penetrating analys[is]s of modern bioethics and culture with a strong to arms to reorient ourselves and polity to moral sanity. -- Paul Tuns * The Interim *A valuable resource for people eager to understand how abortion law changed so quickly in less than one generation. -- William C. Davis * Ordained Servant *Offers a counterweight to the legal scholarship that, at present, is doubling down on expressive individualism…The book provides several answers to the question of why the U.S. law has embraced expressive individualism so fervently. Snead suggests American individualism, an obsession with sexual freedom, industry ([assisted reproductive technologies] and health care generally), power, and a die that was cast at the dawn of our public bioethics. -- Helen M. Alvaré * The Thomist *A landmark work at the intersection of moral and political philosophy that prompts a re-evaluation of law, public policy, and even societal attitudes in our country. -- Columba Thomas O.P. * Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics *

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Book SynopsisTrade 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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Book Synopsis By an acclaimed author in his field Challenges the ideas of our modern scientific culture Far-reaching consequences for how we understand and relate to the natural world Our scientific culture, which gave birth to modern technology, is in desperate need of change. Science has largely meant groups of specialists working in separate disciplines, seeking answers to narrowly defined questions which have little or nothing to do with the living world. The last few years, however, have seen a shift to a more integrated, holistic approach to how we view and understand our world. There is still much work to be done. Most modern people have come to accept a fragmented culture whereby science isolates us from the natural world. As a result, we feel we can govern it and dominate it as we please. Brian Goodwin, acclaimed author of How the Leopard Changed Its Spots, argues for a view of nature as complex, interrelated networks of relationships. He proposes that, in order for us to once again work with nature to achieve true sustainability on our planet, we need to adopt a new science, new art, new design, new economics and new patterns of responsibility. We must be willing to pay nature its due: to recognise what we owe to the natural world and resist exploiting it solely for our own ends.This is an ambitious, wide-ranging book with far-reaching consequences, and will be essential reading for all those interested in how nature and human culture can co-exist in the future.Trade Review'This remarkable book is Brian Goodwin's biological testament, summing up the work he has been doing throughout his career since the 1960s along with the many major scientific advances since that period … In understanding nature more deeply, we understand ourselves more profoundly. This book is a brilliant articulation of this process, pointing to the emergence of a new culture of co-operation and harmony.'-- David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network Review, Summer 2007'Superb … highly recommended.'-- Yoga Scotland, September 2007'Goodwin's book holds in it the excitement of new beginnings. It reads like a primer for the Great Work. It has a breath-taking range of scholarship that takes the reader on a journey of discovery through cultural history, scientific history, paradigm change, modern systems theory, chaos theory, evolutionary biology and a new field called biological hermeneutics.'-- Edmund O'Sullivan, Resurgence, November-December 2007'Thought-provoking, clearly conceived vision of health in individuals, communities and ecosystems. A call for a more integrated, holistic approach to how we view and understand our world … words of wisdom during our global crises.'-- New Leaf News, Spring 2009'Nature's Due is a fascinating and important book. It's one of those books that can frunish you with serviceable building blocks for a worldview.'-- www.greenprophet.com

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Book SynopsisArgues that, contrary to many popular ideas, humans are naturally cooperative not selfish, and that the universe is more than just 'stuff' for us to use at will.Trade Review'Given the scope of these great questions, Tudge does a good job in making relatively succinct and practical suggestions on how we might take action to find alternative solutions that help challenge "the dangerous ideas that dominate our lives" … On a firm foundation of a broad, scientifically philosophical metaphysic we can build a social infrastructure based on sound economic and political theory, which will in turn make day-to-day realities of life more cooperative, healthy and meaningful. This one might call a new theology of collaboration, based, as Tudge defines it, on "transcendence, oneness, compassion and humility." … Tudge is one of many voices calling for just such a "nice," kindly, new theology. And one might well ask: "ain't that nice enough for starters? What's not to like?" '-- Martin Lockley, Scientific & Medical Network Review'This wise and far-reaching book points the way to a better, more inclusive kind of science and a better, more inclusive kind of religion in a positive, constructive relationship. This is surely what we need most in the twenty-first century and Tudge is a genial guide for all who feel the need to move on from scientific and religious fundamentalism, environmentally destructive capitalism and an economic philosophy of selfishness, competition and limitless growth. Tudge points the way to a new kind of agriculture, a new way of living in harmony with our planet and the universe, and with each other. This book is an impressive synthesis and is admirably non-technical, conversational and approachable. Tudge, one of our most distinguished science writers, is a prophet for our time, and a very welcome voice of sanity and reason.'-- Rupert Sheldrake'This book more than lives up to its subtitle. It does indeed challenge big bad ideas, whether they be about the natural world, the human condition within it, or our habits of thought and behaviour, and suggests some bigger, better ideas for the future. In short replace the conventional wisdom. All this is laid out in easy but scholarly fashion, and the conclusions are apersonal testament. Think differently is the message. We are now better able to do so.'-- Sir Crispin Tickell'Tudge is a biologist, brought up on the positivistic prejudices that dominated the mid-20th century, but never able fully to accept them. He seeks to do two things: first, to challenge these materialist prejudices, and, second, to argue that metaphysics are essential to our practical enter prises… The book is written with great humour and in an easy-going, conversational style, and may be taken as a sign of what may really be a change of cultural tide.'-- Church Times'The title of this book works as an excellent resume: it is well worth reading… This is a powerful book with important ideas. It is easy to read, with a wealth of illustrative stories and a good index. Though not professing to be a Christian the author has discussed his ideas with those who are and is widely read.'-- ThirdWay'This is an important book and should be read widely… it covers a great deal of ground, all of it of interest and some of it of vital relevance to how we judge the universe and ourselves.'-- Literary Review

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Book SynopsisThis unique book explores the captivating colors that appear in the atmosphere of the earth: coronas, glories, halos, rainbows, dawn and dusk.

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Book SynopsisThis Element introduces the philosophy of physical symmetry. It stresses both the continuity with historically important themes such as the Relativity Principle, as well as novel insights earned by working with contemporary media such as the covariant phase space and derived critical locus formalisms.

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Book SynopsisThis thoroughly updated second edition guides readers through the central concepts and debates in the philosophy of science. Using concrete examples from the history of science, Kent W. Staley addresses questions about what science is, why it is important, and the basis for trust in scientific results. The first part of the book introduces the central concepts of philosophy of science, with updated discussions of the problem of induction, underdetermination, rationality, scientific progress, and important movements such as falsificationism, logical empiricism, and postpositivism, together with a new chapter on social constructionism. The second part offers updated chapters on probability, scientific realism, explanation, and values in science, along with new discussions of the role of models in science, science in policy-making, and feminist philosophy of science. This broad yet detailed overview will give readers a strong grounding in philosophy of science whilst also providing opportunities for further exploration.

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the relationship between religion and the life sciences, focusing on Christianity and evolution. It brings fresh insights to the science/religion debate for general readers, undergraduate and graduate students interested in evolutionary biology, genetics, philosophy of science, history of science, and philosophy of religion.Trade Review'The indefatigable Michael Ruse has produced a fascinating and most distinctive book in his Understanding the Christianity–Evolution Relationship. Eschewing a conventional approach to exploring this aspect of the science and religion question, Ruse uses his exceptional knowledge of the history and philosophy of biology to look at a very wide range of aspects of the Christianity–evolution relationship. These he illuminates with his inimitable turns of phrase and frequent deep insights.' Revd Professor Michael J. Reiss, University College London and the International Society for Science and Religion'As a prolific and insightful commentator on Darwin and all things 'Darwinian, Michael Ruse has few, if any, equals. Devotee of modern Darwinian science, but no hater of Christianity, he offers refreshing balance by showing how both Christianity and science have been influenced, though differently, by the same rival paradigms of mechanism and organicism. Readers should not expect a deep theological treatise, but they will find a lively introduction to discourse about science and religion, written with striking informality and providing plenty of stimulus to polish their own thinking.' John Hedley Brooke, University of Oxford'The compatibility, or not, of science and religion (specifically Christianity) is a centuries-old issue, which intensified in 1859 with Darwin's extension of the mechanistic explanation of the structure and behavior of the world around us to living things, including humans. Ruse offers, not an answer, as such, to this debate, but a skillful examination of the intellectual chess-match: moves and countermoves. The template of his narrative centres on the mechanistic and organismic views of nature. This thread is brilliantly embellished with clear expositions of all the perspectives advanced over the last two or so centuries.' R. Paul Thompson, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto'In this little book, Michael Ruse reaps a huge harvest from decades of writing on the relationship between evolutionary science and Christianity. Displaying an admirable breadth of learning in both Christian theology and evolutionary biology, Ruse shows that in their best formulations, neither human enterprise needs to wage war against the other. Ongoing hostilities originate either from bad articulations of Christianity (Creationism), bellicose banishment of final causes from science (New Atheism), or (as often) both together … Ruse writes in a lively, readable, often humorous style, and with a gift for making difficult concepts in science and theology accessible to non-experts. Above all, the book should make us consider, at least, that contrary to common opinion, an intellectually honorable peace between Darwinism and Christianity is not only possible but is advantageous to science, to Christianity, and to society as a whole.' John R. Schneider, Professor Emeritus, Theology, Calvin University'Michael Ruse has gifted us with a masterful treatment of the relationship between Christianity and evolutionary biology. Ruse insightfully frames the book around the historically and philosophically great differences (as well as interactions) between explanatory approaches that see the world as operating, at rock bottom, according to intelligent purpose or by physical causality. This guiding motif allows Ruse to apply insights gained in his distinguished career to major issues in the ongoing and growing Christianity-science discussion. The attentive reader will learn much about science, the history of science, and the varieties of Christian positions involved, and additionally receive a privileged glimpse into how one person, an expert who has pondered these important issues for a lifetime, conscientiously navigates them.' Michael L. Peterson, Professor of Philosophy, Asbury Theological SeminaryTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Rival paradigms; 2. The mechanists' god; 3. The organicists' god; 4. Humans; 5. Environment; 6. Hate; Epilogue; Common Misunderstandings; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThe Analysis of Matter is the product of thirty years of thinking by one of the twentieth century''s best-known philosophers. An inquiry into the philosophical foundations of physics, it was written against the background of stunning new developments in physics earlier in the century, above all relativity, as well as the excitement around quantum theory, which was just being developed. Concerned to place physics on a stable footing at a time of great theoretical change, Russell argues that the concept of matter itself can be replaced by a logical construction whose basic foundations are events. He is careful to point out that this does not prove that matter does not exist, but it does show that physicists can get on with their work without assuming that matter does exist. Russell argues that fundamental bits of ''''matter'''', such as electrons and protons, are simply groups of events connected in a certain way and their properties are all that are required for physiTrade Review'The whole book is candid and stimulating and, for both its subject and its treatment, one of the best that Mr. Russell has given us.' - The Times Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Routledge Classics edition John G. Slater Preface 1. The Nature of the Problem Part 1: The Logical Analysis of Physics 2. Pre-Relativity Physics 3. Electrons and Protons 4. The Theory of Quanta 5. The Special Theory of Relativity 6. The General Theory of Relativity 7. The Method of Tensors 8. Geodesics 9. Invariants and Their Physical Interpretation 10. Weyl’s Theory 11. The Principle of Differential Laws 12. Measurement 13. Matter and Space 14. The Abstractness of Physics Part 2: Physics and Perception 15. From Primitive Perception to Common Sense 16. From Common Sense to Physics 17. What is an Empirical Science 18. Our Knowledge of Particular Matters of Fact 19. Data, Inferences, Hypotheses, and Theories 20. The Causal Theory of Perception 21. Perception and Objectivity 22. The Belief in General Laws 23. Substance 24. Importance of Structure in Scientific Inference 25. Perception From the Standpoint of Physics 26. Non-Mental Analogues to Perception Part 3: The Structure of the Physical World 27. Particulars and Events 28. The Construction of Points 29. Space-Time Order 30. Causal Lines 31. Extrinsic Causal Laws 32. Physical and Perceptual Space-Time 33. Periodicity and Qualitative Series 34. Types of Physical Occurrences 35. Causality and Interval 36. The Genesis of Space-Time 37. Physics and Neutral Monism 38. Summary and Conclusion. Index

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Book SynopsisImre Lakatos's influential and enduring work on the nature of mathematic discovery and development continues to be relevant to philosophers of mathematics. Including a specially commissioned preface written by Paolo Mancosu, and presented in a fresh twenty-first-century series livery, it is now available for a new generation of readers.Trade Review'For anyone interested in mathematics who has not encountered the work of the late Imre Lakatos before, this book is a treasure; and those who know well the famous dialogue, first published in 1963–4 in the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, that forms the greater part of this book, will be eager to read the supplementary material … the book, as it stands, is rich and stimulating, and, unlike most writings on the philosophy of mathematics, succeeds in making excellent use of detailed observations about mathematics as it is actually practised.' Michael Dummett, Nature'The whole book, as well as being a delightful read, is of immense value to anyone concerned with mathematical education at any level.' C. W. Kilmister, The Times Higher Education Supplement'In this book the late Imre Lakatos explores 'the logic of discovery' and 'the logic of justification' as applied to mathematics … The arguments presented are deep … but the author's lucid literary style greatly facilitates their comprehension … The book is destined to become a classic. It should be read by all those who would understand more about the nature of mathematics, of how it is created and how it might best be taught.' Education'How is mathematics really done, and - once done - how should it be presented? Imre Lakatos had some very strong opinions about this. The current book, based on his PhD work under George Polya, is a classic book on the subject. It is often characterized as a work in the philosophy of mathematics, and it is that - and more. The argument, presented in several forms, is that mathematical philosophy should address the way that mathematics is done, not just the way it is often packaged for delivery.' William J. Satzer, MAA ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface to this edition Paolo Mancosu; Editors' preface; Acknowledgments; Author's introduction; Part I: 1. A problem and a conjecture; 2. A proof; 3. Criticism of the proof by counterexamples which are local but not global; 4. Criticism of the conjecture by global counterexamples; 5. Criticism of the proof-analysis by counterexamples which are global but not local. The problem of rigour; 6. Return to criticism of the proof by counterexamples which are local but not global. The problem of content; 7. The problem of content revisited; 8. Concept-formation; 9. How criticism may turn mathematical truth into logical truth; Part II: Editors' introduction; Appendix 1. Another case-study in the method of proofs and refutations; Appendix 2. The deductivist versus the heuristic approach; Bibliography; Index of names; Index of subjects.

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Book SynopsisThe scientific realism debate directly addresses the relation between human thought and the reality in which it finds itself. A core question: can we justifiably believe that science accurately describes the reality that lies beneath the limits of human experience? Exploring this question, the Element begins at the most foundational level of scientific realism, the endeavor to justify belief in the existence of unobservables by way of abduction. Raising anti-realist challenges, some much discussed in the literature but also some generally overlooked, it works its way toward more refined variants of scientific realism. Because it takes scientific realism to be the default position of many ? scientific realists themselves often assuming it is the default position of scientists ? the emphasis will be on the challenges. Those challenges will also motivate the variants of scientific realism traced. The Element concludes with an articulation of the author''s own position, Socratic scientific realism.

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Book SynopsisEvery day, new warnings emerge about artificial intelligence rebelling against us. All the while, a more immediate dilemma flies under the radar. Have forces been unleashed that are thrusting humanity down an ill-advised path, one that''s increasingly making us behave like simple machines? In this wide-reaching, interdisciplinary book, Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger examine what''s happening to our lives as society embraces big data, predictive analytics, and smart environments. They explain how the goal of designing programmable worlds goes hand in hand with engineering predictable and programmable people. Detailing new frameworks, provocative case studies, and mind-blowing thought experiments, Frischmann and Selinger reveal hidden connections between fitness trackers, electronic contracts, social media platforms, robotic companions, fake news, autonomous cars, and more. This powerful analysis should be read by anyone interested in understanding exactly how technology threatens thTrade Review'Frischmann and Selinger provide a thoroughgoing and balanced examination of the tradeoffs inherent in offloading tasks and decisions to computers. By illuminating these often intricate and hidden tradeoffs, and providing a practical framework for assessing and negotiating them, the authors give us the power to make wiser choices.' Nicolas Carr, author of The Glass Cage: How Our Computers Are Changing Us, from the Foreword'Re-Engineering Humanity brings a pragmatic if somewhat dystopic perspective to the technological phenomena of our age. Humans are learning machines and we learn from our experiences. This book made me ask myself whether the experiences we are providing to our societies are in fact beneficial in the long run.' Vint Cerf, Co-Inventor of the Internet'Frischmann and Selinger deftly and convincingly show why we should be less scared of robots than of becoming more robotic, ourselves. This book will convince you why it's so important we embed technologies with human values before they embed us with their own.' Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock, Program or Be Programmed, and Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus'Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger cogently argue that our Fitbit, Echo, Android, and game console, our Facebook pages, Google searches, Amazon and Netflix profiles, give far less than they take. With tiny, almost imperceptible steps, we have entered into a bargain with socio-technical engineers of the digital age that literally drains our humanity and is imperiling freedom, autonomy, and other precious values fundamental to meaningful human existence. Beyond admittedly important questions demanding balanced policy answers, this disquieting book is about the big picture. All of us should read it and decide, deliberately, if this is a future we want for ourselves and our children.' Helen Nissenbaum, Cornell Tech, and author of Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy, and the Integrity of Social Life'Everybody is suddenly worried about technology. Will social media be the end of democracy? Is automation going to eliminate jobs? Will artificial intelligence make people obsolete? Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger boldly propose that the problem isn't the rise of 'smart' machines but the dumbing down of humanity. This refreshingly philosophical book asks what's lost when we outsource our decision-making to algorithmic systems we don't own and barely understand. Better yet, it proposes conceptual and practical ways to reclaim our autonomy and dignity in the face of new forms of computational control.' Astra Taylor, author of The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Control in the Digital Age'A magnificent achievement. Writing in the tradition of Neil Postman, Jacque Ellul and Marshall McLuhan, this book is the decade's deepest and most powerful portrayal of the challenges to freedom created by our full embrace of comprehensive techno-social engineering. A rewarding and stimulating book that merits repeated readings and may also cause you to reconsider how you live life.' Tim Wu, Isidor and Seville Sulzbacher Professor of Law, Columbia Law School, and author of The Attention Merchants'The book Re-Engineering Humanity by Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger will help us all gain better understanding of techno-social engineering and help us think through what we want and don't want in our future. This is an incredible work that should be studied by every thinking human. It captures details on threats, documenting the many warnings we are already seeing.' Bob Gourley, CTO Vision (www.ctovision.com)'Together, they explore how ordinary activities like clicking on an app's legal terms are made so simple that it 'trains' us to not read the contents. Over time, the authors fear that humans will lose their capacity for judgment, discrimination and self-sufficiency. Or, as Douglas Rushkoff, a tech writer, put it: 'We should be less scared of robots than of becoming more robotic ourselves'.' The Economist Online (www.economist.com)'… a recent startling and thoughtful book … [Re-Engineering Humanity] is an exploration of how everyday practices – such as clicking to accept an app's legal terms – are made so simple that we are effectively 'trained' to not read the contents. Unless things change, the dominance of digital technology means that, over time, humans will lose their capacity for judgment, discrimination and self-sufficiency.' John Naughton, The Guardian'In Re-engineering Humanity, Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger have dug deeply into what's going on behind the 'cheap bliss' in our fully connected world.' Doc Searles, Linux Journal'In our own time, as Frischmann and Selinger observe, the 'smart' device and 'internet of things' developers who offer us efficiency then pull a bait-and-switch: instead of sending us on our way to use our newly-free time on art, beauty, and education, they channel us into putting our time into mumblety-Facebook and its ilk, or what the authors aptly call 'cheap bliss'.' Lara Freidenfelds, Nursing Clio (www.nursingclio.org)'Brett Frischmann and Evan Selinger have written Re-Engineering Humanity as a sustained and multifaceted critique of how contemporary trends in internet technology are slowly but surely shrinking the territory of human autonomy. Their work is a warning, as well as a description, of how internet technologies that ostensibly make our lives easier do so by taking control of our lives away from our self-conscious decision-making.' Adam Riggio, Social Epistemology Review and Reply Collective (www.social-epistemology.com)'Professors Frischmann and Selinger shine a bright light on the current path of our surveillance capitalist society, using a combination of detailed analysis, contemporary examples, and thought experiments. The authors explain that as we (and information about us) increasingly become the product, we are also becoming simple machines programmed by our technology to respond in certain ways. As Frischmann and Selinger suggest, techno-social engineering is a powerful force that requires us to responsibly evaluate its use. And 'if we don't accept that responsibility, we risk becoming means to others' ends'.' Jeramie D. Scott, Epic AlertTable of ContentsForeword Nicholas Carr; Introduction; Part I: 1. Engineering humans; 2. Cogs in the machine of our own lives; 3. Techno-social engineering creep and the slippery-sloped path; Part II: 4. Tools for engineering humans; 5. Engineering humans with contracts; 6. On extending minds and mind control; 7. The path to smart techno-social environments; 8. Techno-social engineering of humans through smart environments; 9. #RelationshipOptimization; Part III: 10. Turing tests and the line between humans and machines; 11. Can humans be engineered to be incapable of thinking?; 12. Engineered determinism and free will; 13. To what end?; Part IV: 14. Conclusion: reimagining and building alternative futures.

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Book SynopsisIn this Element, we extend our earlier treatment of biology''s first law. The law says that in any evolutionary system in which there is variation and heredity, there is a tendency for diversity and complexity to increase. The law plays the same role in biology that Newton''s first law plays in physics, explaining what biological systems are expected to do when no forces act, in other words, what happens when nothing happens. Here we offer a deeper explanation of certain features of the law, develop a quantitative version of it, and explore its consequences for our understanding of diversity and complexity.Table of Contents1. The Zero-Force Evolutionary Law; 2. What the ZFEL is not; 3. The ZFEL quantified; 4. What the ZFEL means for biology.

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Book SynopsisWhy do the debates about evolution persist, despite the plentiful evidence for it? Breaking down the notion that public resistance to evolution is strictly due to its perceived conflict with religion, this concise book shows that evolution is in fact a counterintuitive idea that is difficult to understand. Kostas Kampourakis, an experienced science educator, takes an insightful, interdisciplinary approach, providing an introduction to evolutionary theory written with clarity and thoughtful reasoning. Topics discussed include evolution in the public sphere, evolution and religion, the conceptual obstacles to understanding evolution, the development of Darwin''s theory, the most important evolutionary concepts, as well as evolution and the nature of science. Understanding Evolution presents evolutionary theory with a lucidity and vision that readers will quickly appreciate, and is intended for anyone wanting an accessible and concise guide to evolution.Trade Review'While other books explain what is wrong with the popular attacks on evolution - e.g. creationism, or Intelligent Design - this concise book addresses the fundamental question: why do people fail to accept evolution? This is like going deep to the causes of the illness, while others just try to lower the fever. Kampourakis argues convincingly that teleology, rather than theology, is the most important obstacle to understanding evolution. It is not just matter of science vs. religion. This welcome book is a long argument about the cultural and psychological roots of the widespread misunderstandings of evolution. It opposes scientism - the claim that evolution, or science in general, can bring an end to our questions, worries, and concerns; and, at the same time, it argues that evolutionary theory does not deprive our life of meaning.' Alessandro Minelli, University of Padova, Italy, and author of Plant Evolutionary Developmental Biology'A well-known philosopher of biology once wrote that evolutionary theory seems so simple that almost anyone can misunderstand it. In this heartfelt yet thoughtful book, Kostas Kampourakis essentially turns that sentiment on its head. The author's words on philosophy and science may well lead readers to conclude that, although evolution can be counterintuitive and complex, almost anyone can understand it, with suitable reason and evidence. Kampourakis' treatment should be especially enlightening for those who are wrestling with the acceptance of evolution as truth.' John C. Avise, Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolution, University of California–Irvine, and author of Evolutionary Pathways in Nature: A Phylogenetic Approach.'Understanding Evolution by Kostas Kampourakis deserves a wide readership. It is a sensitive introduction to evolutionary theory itself, as well as its public image and its philosophical implications. It shows the very great importance of the father of the subject, Charles Darwin; sets the disputes with religion in context; and suggests that the evidence is overwhelming but that no reader need feel threatened. It is fair and comprehensive, lively without being heavy-handed, and judicious in its judgments. Read it yourself, and get a copy for your family and your friends!' Michael Ruse, Florida State University, and editor of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Darwin and Evolutionary Thought'… there are plenty of good books on evolution … So why another one? Because, argues Kampourakis, contra a widespread assumption among educators, the biological theory of evolution is actually counterintuitive, and, if not properly taught, it immediately runs into incomprehension and generates conceptual confusion … Scientific theories are dynamic, ever changing, perpetually incomplete and open to revision … The more the public at large understands this, the better off we will be, and books like Kampourakis' certainly make a valuable contribution to nudging us into that desirable direction.' Massimo Pigliucci, K. D. Irani Professor of Philosophy, The City College of New York'In Understanding Evolution, Kostas Kampourakis provides not only a masterly exposition of the elements of evolution but also a compelling explanation of why the topic is so difficult to understand. Informed by up-to-date biology as well as by state-of-the-art historical, philosophical, and psychological scholarship, the book is a concise and considered treatment that deserves the attention of anybody interested in evolution.' Glenn Branch, Deputy Director, National Center for Science Education'This is, without a doubt, the best book available that deals with what is often referred to as a straightforward dichotomy of 'science versus religion.' Not so is the central message of this outstanding, well-written and organized treatment of the nature of evidence, of theory - especially evolutionary theory - of the ramifications of evolution throughout society, and, perhaps most importantly, of why it is so difficult for so many to accept the evidence for evolution. Aimed at a general audience, this book should be read by all who struggle with the logic and consequences of the theory of evolution.' Brian K. Hall, FRSC, University Research Professor Emeritus, Dalhousie University, Canada''How extremely stupid not to have thought of that!', Huxley exclaimed, when he first learnt of evolution by natural selection. But Darwin's great insight is not at all obvious - in many ways, it is rather counterintuitive. The odds of experiencing that 'Aha!' moment are vastly improved by teachers like Kostas Kampourakis. Always attentive to conceptual obstacles, Kampourakis helps the reader to grasp the core of evolutionary theory - from evo-devo to genetic drift - to show just how rich and exciting it is.' Tobias Uller, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Lund University, Sweden'In Understanding Evolution, the science educator Kostas Kampourakis offers an accessible but sophisticated analysis of the topic, combining historical, scientific, philosophical, and psychological factors. Though not ignoring religious concerns, especially those related to design, he focuses instead on the numerous difficulties associated with understanding evolution. Specialists and dilettantes alike will learn much from this volume.' Ronald L. Numbers, Hilldale Professor Emeritus of the History of Science and Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison'Understanding Evolution is an outstanding resource for students, teachers, scientists, and journalists. It sets an impressive new standard for the field by integrating current findings from biology, psychology, and the philosophy of science. Using clear and compelling examples, Kampourakis uncovers the roots of our intuitions about the living world, and shatters widespread myths about why resistance to evolutionary ideas is prevalent. Readers will be rewarded with new tools for fostering scientific literacy, and fresh insights into one of the most profound biological ideas.' Ross H. Nehm, Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, and Editor-in-Chief, Evolution: Education and Outreach'This volume addresses an important and timely issue - why does the concept of evolution encounter such resistance? - and provides a clear, original, and richly informative answer. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, the author reveals persistent conceptual obstacles that have broad implications for the nature of scientific understanding in the world today.' Susan A. Gelman, Heinz Werner Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, University of Michigan, USA'This book is entitled Understanding Evolution, but it is perhaps as much about the understanding of evolution and why some people do not understand it or refuse to understand it. … The book says a great deal about creationism and the reasons people resist evolution. … Dr Kampourakis concludes that people's skepticism or uncertainty about evolution is not directly related to their religion or lack of religion. Rather, he says that we are bound by our intuitions and, among other things, conflate living organisms with human artifacts. … I greatly appreciated the final chapter on the nature of science. In addition to a good introduction to the philosophy of science, Dr Kampourakis introduces us to the limits of scientific thinking and concludes that some topics, such as the existence or nonexistence of God, are beyond the reach of science …' Matt Young, pandasthumb.orgTable of ContentsPreface: There is more to resistance to evolution than religion; 1. The public acceptance of evolution; 2. Religious resistance to accepting evolution; 3. Conceptual obstacles to understanding evolution; 4. Charles Darwin's conceptual change; 5. Common ancestry; 6. Evolutionary processes; 7. Evolution and the nature of science; Concluding remarks: the implications of evolution for human life; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis comprehensive account of the concept and practices of deduction is the first to bring together perspectives from philosophy, history, psychology and cognitive science, and mathematical practice. Catarina Dutilh Novaes draws on all of these perspectives to argue for an overarching conceptualization of deduction as a dialogical practice: deduction has dialogical roots, and these dialogical roots are still largely present both in theories and in practices of deduction. Dutilh Novaes'' account also highlights the deeply human and in fact social nature of deduction, as embedded in actual human practices; as such, it presents a highly innovative account of deduction. The book will be of interest to a wide range of readers, from advanced students to senior scholars, and from philosophers to mathematicians and cognitive scientists.Trade Review'The Dialogical Roots of Deduction displays a formidable command of an impressive range of sources from ancient and mediaeval logic to the latest work in cognitive science. The depth of Catarina Dutilh Novaes's scholarship is evident throughout as she defends a novel and provocative thesis: that deduction as dialogue is conceptually and historically prior to its conventional monologue presentation. I expect the book to be influential and widely discussed.' Andrew Aberdein, Florida Institute of Technology'Reframing the philosophy of logic, this pathbreaking book develops a historically informed and philosophically powerful new conception of how the pragmatic foundations of logical deductive relations, and so the semantics of logical concepts, can be found in dialogic social practices that suitably balance cooperation and competition.' Bob Brandom, University of Pittsburgh'Philosophers and scientists working on human cognition have much to gain from assimilating the careful research put into this book.' Tricia Mae Barcelita, Metascience'Dutilh Novaes has already made a substantial contribution to this literature, and her new book develops this program in new and exciting directions by drawing on a tradition of deductive reasoning that descends from the public debates of the Athenian democracy, through a central strand in Western intellectual history, and into current scientific research into human cognition. Philosophers and scientists working on human cognition have much to gain from assimilating the careful research put into this book.' Preston Stovall, Metascience'This book is required reading not only for those interested in the history and philosophy of logic. It has something to teach any of us who are interested in what we are doing when we reason together. The lessons we learn will help us address some of our old questions from new perspectives, and will leave us asking fresh questions, too.' Greg Restall, MINDTable of ContentsPreface; Part I. The Philosophy of Deduction: 1. The trouble with deduction; 2. Back to the roots of deduction; 3. The Prover-Skeptic dialogues; 4. Deduction as a dialogical notion; Part II. The History of Deduction: 5. Deduction in mathematics and dialectic in Ancient Greece; 6. Aristotle's syllogistic, and other ancient logical traditions; 7. Logic and deduction in the Middle Ages and the modern period; Part III. Deduction and Cognition: 8. How we reason, individually and in groups; 9. The ontogeny of deductive reasoning; 10. The phylogeny of deductive reasoning; 11. A dialogical account of proofs in mathematical practice; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisDevelopmental biology is seemingly well understood, with development widely accepted as being a series of programmed changes through which an egg turns into an adult organism, or a seed matures into a plant. However, the picture is much more complex than that: is it all genetically controlled or does environment have an influence? Is the final adult stage the target of development and everything else just a build-up to that point? Are developmental strategies the same in plants as in animals? How do we consider development in single-celled organisms? In this concise, engaging volume, Alessandro Minelli, a leading developmental biologist, addresses these key questions. Using familiar examples and easy-to-follow arguments, he offers fresh alternatives to a number of preconceptions and stereotypes, awakening the reader to the disparity of developmental phenomena across all main branches of the tree of life.Trade Review'Developmental biology has been described as the process by which a fertilized egg is transformed into a multicellular organism. But is it? In this thoughtful and erudite book, Alessandro Minelli forces us to step back and reconsider the subject. Using an astonishing range of examples, from pythons to lichens and from sponges to ciliates, Minelli challenges a series of generalizations and preconceptions. We see how development is not only the process of building adults, why development does not have end-points, how development need not start with a fertilized egg, why we must be careful with the concept of developmental genes, and much more. After reading this book, you might not think about developmental biology in the same way again.' Peter Holland, University of Oxford, UK'This is the finest book on the principles underpinning biological development that I have read in a long time. It is succinct, thoughtful and full of examples, offering wise reflection on the diversity of developmental phenomena across the whole tree of life. Understanding Development is especially notable for its organization into 48 sections comprising 8 chapters. Each section subtitle states a key lesson to be learned through brief historical and theoretical expositions, well-chosen examples, and stories of odd-ball and familiar life forms. Every lesson overturns some conventional wisdom or common knowledge that cannot stand up to the wondrous diversity of life on Earth. Minelli's broad, deep knowledge of the field is expressed with an engaging contrarian spirit that serves his larger goal: to prompt a reassessment of the state of contemporary understanding of development in a way accessible to novice and expert alike.' James Griesemer, University of California, Davis, USA'Developmental biology is a highly dynamic area of the life sciences, and it also lacks a unifying theoretical framework and must rely on general principles derived from a small number of well-studied model organisms. In Understanding Development, Minelli channels an encyclopaedic knowledge of biological diversity to convincingly show the need for a more expansive concept of development that can embrace the variability and complexity of life. Minelli surveys the interplay of generalizations and exceptions that arise in the study of development, tracing out important open conceptual challenges facing researchers today. Engagingly written and always insightful, this book is highly recommended to biologists, philosophers of biology, and historians interested in grappling with a fundamental and active problem area in the contemporary landscape of biological thought.' James DiFrisco, KU Leuven, Belgium'The text assumes a basic acquaintance with evolution, genetics, and embryology and is at once well written, entertaining, and loaded with fascinating examples of organisms that defy expectations … Highly recommended.' J. L. Hunt, Choice MagazineTable of Contents1. Defining development, If possible; 2. Cells and development; 3. Development as the history of the individual; 4. Revisiting the embryo; 5. Developmental sequences: sustainability vs adaptation; 6. Genes and development; 7. Emerging form; 8. The ecology of development; Concluding remarks.

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Book SynopsisWhat are genes? What do genes do? These questions are not simple and straightforward to answer; at the same time, simplistic answers are quite prevalent and are taken for granted. This book aims to explain the origin of the gene concept, its various meanings both within and outside science, as well as to debunk the intuitive view of the existence of ''genes for'' characteristics and disease. Drawing on contemporary research in genetics and genomics, as well as on ideas from history of science, philosophy of science, psychology and science education, it explains what genes are and what they can and cannot do. By presenting complex concepts and research in a comprehensible and rigorous manner, it examines the potential impact of research in genetics and genomics and how important genes actually are for our lives. Understanding Genes is an accessible and engaging introduction to genes for any interested reader.Trade Review'This book was interesting. I appreciate that the preface ties in science fiction and how it compares to the reality of genetics as well as how the modern perceptions of genetics is not always the same as the scientific reality. It was well organized, the charts and images were well chosen and strategically placed so as to best support the text. I enjoyed how much of the history of genetics was woven through the book. The writing was quite good for a science text, the book is clear and not too heavy.' Jessica Fick, NetGalley Reader'In Understanding Genes author Kostas Kampourakis not only tackles the question of what a gene is (or isn't) but takes the reader through a historical journey through the discovery of genetics, emphasizing how science has to modify its models and explanations as more and more is discovered, whether proved or disproved. As a medical historian, I really enjoyed the historical journey, once again meeting the major players and learning something new.' Allyson Dyar, NetGalley Reader'Understanding Genes is an essential guide to this important, complex, and sometimes incendiary topic. In his clear and balanced discussion, Kostas Kampourakis cuts through all the hype and misconception that often surround the debate about what genes are and what they do, and provides the most honest and careful discussion I have seen of how DNA participates in the processes that support life. In doing so, he reveals the real promise, limitations, and dilemmas of the current age of genomics.' Philip Ball, science writer and author of How to Grow a Human'Did you know that two blue-eyed people can have a brown-eyed child? Why calico cats are (almost) always female? It's in the genes, but it's not all in the genes. Kampourakis shows that, while genes are unquestionably important, fears of 'designer babies' are both overblown and misguided. Genes alone do not make you who you are. They are not the ultimate essence of life. Understanding Genes is simply the best book out there for students or anyone wanting a smart, thoughtful introduction to what genes are and do – and what they aren't and don't.' Nathaniel Comfort,, Professor, Department of the History of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University'Kampourakis has produced a comprehensive but highly readable introduction to genetics and genomics. His take on the fallacy of genetic fatalism is a must-read for both geneticists and the casual reader … The role of genetics and genomics in society is treated comprehensively by Kampourakis. He has produced a very readable book with an important message about genetic fatalism – it doesn't exist!' Professor Robert DeSalle, American Museum of Natural History, New York'… provides a plain, rich, and direct narrative of what a gene is and is not, with practical examples of how genes relate to our daily life … clearly identifies controversial views in [the] fields of genetics, genomics, cell and organismic biology, and clarifies them for the comprehension of the just initiated as well as the experienced reader.' Carlos Sonnenschein, MD, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA, and Centre Cavailles, École Normale Supérieure, Paris, France'Understanding Genes is a remarkably clear, rigorous, and yet accessible review of the biological and social roles of genes. Building on a wide range of sources including history, biology, philosophy, and social studies, the book identifies a variety of gene concepts currently in use, illustrates their significance through a wealth of concrete examples, and discusses the relations between these different ways of understanding genes. By deftly combining conceptual analysis with empirical evidence, the book succeeds in comprehensively introducing this complex subject without oversimplifying. It is highly recommended to readers venturing in this domain for the first time, as well as to experts wishing to expand their perspective.' Sabina Leonelli, University of Exeter, UK'Genes – many people use the word, few understand its many meanings and how they changed over time: from tools to think with, to tools to trace ancestors with. This book guides the reader through the many transformations of this concept from conception to misconceptions, from Mendel to the media. We learn about genetics, genomics, and post-genomics, but also about the interactions between scientific and public understandings and the role of metaphor in spicing things up. Readers come to realize that genes are neither essences, nor things, nor actors; genes only work in context, and in collaboration with each other within an interactive genome. This makes it difficult to find easy solutions to medical problems, but it also means that genes don't determine who we are. This book is more than a guide to understanding genes; it is essential reading for everyone interested in the role that genes play in science and culture.' Brigitte Nerlich, University of Nottingham, UK'In rigorous but uncomplicated prose, Kostas Kampourakis gives us a present we wish we could have received 100 years ago: a clear explanation of what genes do, what they do not do, what they are, and what they are not. In doing so, he teaches us salutary lessons in both the history and philosophy of science and in human psychology. At a time when our ability to manipulate nature is reaching new levels, Kampourakis provides a road map for understanding the relevance of genetics to our lives. This is a book everyone should read.' Oren Harman, Senior Research Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and Chair of the Graduate Program in Science, Technology and Society, Bar Ilan University, and author of The Man Who Invented the Chromosome, The Price of Altruism, and Evolutions: Fifteen Myths that Explain Our World'Understanding Genes is the first book that provides an honest, nuanced, and full accounting of how genes operate in an organism that is accessible to a general reader. I have not seen in one volume such clear analysis of the 'gene' and its deconstruction from a primary cause to a 'segment of DNA' that is a necessary, but not sufficient, cause of different types of biochemical events. The book exhibits the expertise of an author whose breadth of knowledge of genetics, history and philosophy of science, and science education makes this book exceptionally valuable as a scientific antidote to the tide of popular oversimplifications and the trend in the scientific literature of genetic reductionism.' Sheldon Krimsky, Lenore Stern Professor of Humanities & Social Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Public Health & Community Medicine, Tufts University'If you are looking for a concise and up-to-date book on the role of genes (and the science of genes) in our society, look no further: Understanding Genes is an accessible, yet nuanced, account of how the concept of the gene has developed throughout history, how its cultural and social meanings have changed, and how genetic factors influence the expression of human behavior and diseases. It conveys not only the basics of genetic thinking, but also a sense for how our understanding of what genes are, and what they do, is always also a response to the big questions that society asks at any given time. I highly recommend this beautifully written book to students, journalists, researchers from other disciplines, and in fact anyone seeking to understand the role of genes – and of genetics – in our world.' Barbara Prainsack, University of Vienna, Austria'In Understanding Genes, Kostas Kampourakis draws on history and popular culture as well as the latest scientific research to help the beginning reader to grasp what genes are, why they are important, and how to give that importance its due without hype or hysteria. Anyone looking for an introduction to genetics that is both reliable and readable need look no further.' Gregory Radick, University of Leeds, UK'This excellent book is comprehensive, detailed, and amazingly informative, yet eminently readable; it's a really lovely synthesis of the past half-century of thought about what genes are, what genes do, and why they – along with their contexts – are so extremely important. Kampourakis presents biological facts with a 'systems' perspective that remains unwaveringly attentive to the fact that genetic information is always embedded in a context, a context that renders developmental outcomes unpredictable from DNA sequence information alone. By deploying wonderful new metaphors and unpacking older and potentially misleading metaphors, he helps readers avoid many of the misunderstandings that arise from various sources. Accurate and poised at the cutting edge, Understanding Genes is lucid enough to be accessible for the general public and students learning about genetics for the first time, but erudite enough for scientists interested in what we currently know about genes.' David S. Moore,'His approach is methodical, thorough, and buttressed by a number of illustrations and sidebars that help clarify some difficult concepts as he, for instance, explains how one gene has multiple effects; how any process or disease has multiple genes involved; how genes are part of an ecosystem of interrelated parts such as proteins, RNA, expression, the environment; how epigenetics has complicated our view of genes' constancy, etc. Kampourakis shows the ability to write clearly, especially so in his summaries toward the end of sections.' Bill Capossere, Fantasyliterature.com'This book provides a good current primer on the field and can serve as a starting point for educators in characterizing the misconceptions that students have and organizing content that addresses these issues.' John R. True, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of Contents1. The Public Image of Genes; 2. The Origin and Evolution of the Gene Concept; 3. The Devolution of the Gene Concept; 4. There are No 'Genes For' Characteristics or Disease; 5. What Genes 'Do'; 6. The Dethronement of Genes.

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Book SynopsisHow does the complex nature of ecological systems affect ecologists' ability to study them? This Element argues that ecological systems are complex in a rather special way: they are causally heterogeneous. The author presents an updated philosophical account with an optimistic outlook of the methods and status of ecological research.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. What is Ecological Complexity? 3. What are the Effects of Ecological Complexity?; 4. Dealing with Ecological Complexity; 5. Concluding Remarks; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisAll people desire to know. We want to not only know what has happened, but also why it happened, how it happened, whether it will happen again, whether it can be made to happen or not happen, and so on. In short, what we want are explanations. Asking and answering explanatory questions lies at the very heart of scientific practice. The primary aim of this book is to help readers understand how science explains the world. This book explores the nature and contours of scientific explanation, how such explanations are evaluated, as well as how they lead to knowledge and understanding. As well as providing an introduction to scientific explanation, it also tackles misconceptions and misunderstandings, while remaining accessible to a general audience with little or no prior philosophical training.Trade Review'This engaging book effectively introduces a wide range of philosophical ideas about scientific explanation in an accessible way. It's attentive to nuances but avoids getting bogged down in details and debates.' Angela Potochnik, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science, University of Cincinnati'Kevin McCain's excellent book zooms in on the role of explanation in science and links it with scientific understanding. McCain has the enviable gift to write a gentle introduction for the novice reader that also provides a fresh perspective that is interesting for the specialist. Overall, this book is an accessible and illuminating contribution to the literature on scientific explanation.' Olaf Dammann, Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University'In this concise and elegant book, McCain provides a superb overview of current thinking about the nature of explanation in science, correcting common misunderstandings and providing a clearly written, entertaining, and insightful guide to the enterprise of understanding the world.' Michael Strevens, Professor of Philosophy, New York University'Understanding How Science Explains the World is a very impressive achievement. It draws on and develops some of the most important philosophical views on the nature of explanation, while carefully engaging throughout with important examples from the history of science (including quite recent history, which takes into account scientific attempts to explain and understand COVID-19). Highly recommended.' Stephen R. Grimm, Professor of Philosophy, Fordham UniversityTable of Contents1. Why Explanation Matters in Science; 2. The General Nature of Explanation; 3. Specific Kinds of Explanations; 4. Explanation and Prediction; 5. Evaluating Explanations; 6. Explanatory Quality and Felt Understanding; 7. False Theories, But Accurate Explanations?; 8. From Explanation to Knowledge.

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Book SynopsisIn the course of more than twenty works François Laruelle has developed one of the most singular and unique ways of thinking within contemporary philosophy. This volume develops the style of his late work, which has sought to combine the idioms of diverse areas (from the language of quantum mechanics to theology, messianism and Gnosticism) to create non-standard philosophical fictions which further articulate his thinking of radical immanence in relation to wide-ranging themes and concerns. The focus here is a reassessment of his attempt to rethink what it means to be human. Much of that work has taken place through an engagement with science, politics and religion, but now we see Laruelle confronting the challenge of ecology for his kind of humanism (which he would call a ''non-humanism'', meaning a non-standard humanism). This challenge is one of thinking of the ethical demands of other entities within a general ecology. Namely the lives of plants and other vegetation alonTrade ReviewFrançois Laruelle's The Last Humanity is a unique, ambitious, and provocative adventure in ecological thinking. It offers one of the most original, realist, and dare I say deconstructive ecological encounters to date. * Rick Elmore, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Appalachian State University, USA *Laruelle’s non-philosophical ecology represents an uncompromising challenge to existing ecological thought and, in this brilliantly accomplished translation, makes a provocative and landmark contribution to contemporary eco-critical debate. Laruelle aims at nothing less than a total reconfiguration of the ethical relations between the human, the animal, and biological life more generally and he succeeds in ways that we have hitherto been unable to imagine. * Ian James, Reader in Modern French Literature and Thought, University of Cambridge, UK *Table of ContentsForeword Introduction Chapter 1: In Search of a Messianic Ecology Chapter 2: Philosophy’s Degrowth for a Generic Ecology Chapter 3: The House of Philosophy Is in Ruins Chapter 4: The Antinomy of Ecology and Philosophy Chapter 5: The Unification of the Lived-without-Life and Being-in-the-Last-Humanity Chapter 6: Ecology as Quantum of the Messianic Lived Conclusion: Ethics Between Ecology and Messianity

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Book SynopsisFor over 40 years, Mary Midgley made a forceful case for the relevance and importance of philosophy. With characteristic wit and wisdom, she drew special attention to the ways in which our thought influences our everyday lives. Her wide-ranging explorations of human nature and the self; our connections with animals and the natural world; and the complexities of morality, gender, science, and religion all contributed to her reputation as one of the most expansive and compelling moral philosophers of the twentieth century. Mary Midgley: An Introduction is the first substantive introduction to Midgley''s influential philosophy on the human condition. This volume, supplemented by original interviews with Midgley, outlines the concepts and perspectives for which she is best known and illuminates the philosophical problems to which she devoted her life''s work.Trade ReviewMcElwain became a friend as well as an interpreter to Midgley over the decade he spent on this project. Midgley is compulsively quotable--a crucial skill for a popular philosopher and one of the delights of McElwain's book are the many quotations he includes, not only from across her enormous oeuvre, but also from years of interviews conducted at her home outside Newcastle. * Environmental Values *An original and imaginative philosopher, Midgley (1919–2018) wrote with passion, wit, and clarity on a wide range of subjects … This introduction to Midgley's thought is admirably clear, accessible, wide-ranging, and sympathetic … Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, general readers. * CHOICE *McElwain offers a clear and lucid exploration of the philosophical concerns and contributions of the late Mary Midgley. Balancing depth and breadth, he engages and connects her views on ethical, environmental, feminist, and epistemological themes. Midgley emerges as a philosopher acutely sensitive to the possibilities for integration between the many aspects of human existence and the perils of their fragmentation. We should take from this book a richer understanding of Midgley and a deeper vision of the the role of philosophy in caring for ourselves and our world. * Ian James Kidd, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, University of Nottingham, UK *Mary Midgley is the ideal philosopher for those who believe nothing is simple, that human nature is both bestial and cultural, that gender is neither a construct nor biological destiny, that we are one with nature yet keen to be separate, that we are selfish and social at the same time. We can only love a philosopher who respects contradictions and embraces our animal nature. She will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest we have ever had. * Frans de Waal, C.H. Candler Professor, Emory University, Atlanta, USA *Mary Midgley deserves to be recognized as one of the most interesting and individual philosophical minds of the twentieth century. McElwain’s book captures the personality of a thinker overflowing with ideas, buzzing with excitement and on a mission. Midgley retained the sense of wonder and mischief that characterizes childhood into her late 90s. She transforms that wonder into wisdom though her deep knowledge of philosophical method and history, and her serious study of human and animal nature. For Midgley, philosophers must be cartographers for their time, and this book provides those uninitiated into her complex and systematic philosophy with an invaluable map. * Rachael Wiseman, Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Liverpool, UK *Table of Contents1. Philosophical Plumbing 2. Human Nature and the Self 3. Morality and Wholeness 4. Animals and Why They Matter 5. Our Connection to Nature 6. Gender and Fragmentation 7. Science in Context 8. Religion, Science, and Complexity 9. Afterword: One World, But A Big One Bibliography Index

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