Philosophy of science Books

Book SynopsisTHE TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Bristles with pure, crystalline intelligence, deep knowledge and human sympathy'' Richard Dawkins Is modernity really failing? Or have we failed to appreciate progress and the ideals that make it possible?If you follow the headlines, the world in the 21st century appears to be sinking into chaos, hatred, and irrationality. Yet Steven Pinker shows that this is an illusion - a symptom of historical amnesia and statistical fallacies. If you follow the trendlines rather than the headlines, you discover that our lives have become longer, healthier, safer, happier, more peaceful, more stimulating and more prosperous - not just in the West, but worldwide. Such progress is no accident: it''s the gift of a coherent and inspiring value system that many of us embrace without even realizing it. These are the values of the Enlightenment: of reason, science, humanism and progress.The challTrade ReviewMy new favourite book of all time -- Bill GatesExhilarating, magnificent, uplifting * Economist *This is the biggest story of our time. It's about the many ways in which the world is improving, and why we don't believe it -- Fraser Nelson * Spectator *Pinker is right. Not just a bit right, but completely, utterly, incontrovertibly right ... for most people, life is better, even if they don't realise it -- Dominic Sandbrook * Daily Mail *Awesome. The confidence with which Pinker tears through the issues that cause such deep anxiety today is compelling -- William Davies * Guardian *A characteristically fluent, decisive and data-rich demonstration of why, given the chance to live at any point in human history, only a stone-cold idiot would choose any time other than the present -- Sam Leith * Spectator *A new, optimistic view of the world ... Things are not as bad as your Facebook news feed makes them seem ... a cheerful, contrarian tract for dark times -- Niall Ferguson * Sunday Times *A goldmine of startling graphs and killer facts about the way we live now. Everyone should read this book and, just for once, be enthralled by what humankind has achieved -- Iain Macwhirter * Herald *Brimming with surprising data and entertaining anecdotes ... a genuinely enlightening book -- Jan-Werner Müller * Financial Times *Today we are living healthier, wealthier lives - and it's thanks to the values of the Enlightenment ... a passionate book in praise of Enlightenment values -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *In Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker extols the amazing achievements of modernity, and demonstrates that humankind has never been so peaceful, healthy and prosperous. There is of course much to argue about, but that's what makes this book so interesting. -- Yuval Noah HarariA salutary reminder of the material progress modern science and commerce have delivered * The New York Times *Words can hardly do justice to the superlative range and liveliness of Pinker's investigations * Independent *Pinker is a paragon of exactly the kind of intellectual honesty and courage we need -- David Brooks * The New York Times *If 2017 was a rough year for you, look no further than Steven Pinker's engaging new book, Enlightenment Now, to cheer you up. Conceived before Donald Trump even announced his candidacy, it could not have been better timed to clarify - and, for some, refute - the habits of mind that brought Trump and the GOP to power ... Pinker's gift is to challenge us not only to update the Enlightenment, but to think beyond it * Washington Post *A valuable book ... Enlightenment Now can hardly be bettered * Boston Globe *Persuasive... Pinker's book focuses on the Enlightenment as a philosophical perspective, as a distinctive way of looking at the position of individuals within modern society. Enlightenment Now is a spirited defence of the enduring ideals of this tradition * Times Higher Education *A careful and deeply researched piece of work ... Pinker is bravely prepared to be the bearer of good news * Guardian *The most uplifting work of science I've ever read * Science *A highly topical and much-needed book * New Statesman *Pinker is ahead of his critics... [he] is in no way complacent. To accuse him of smugly sipping cocktails at the End of History café is simply to ignore his repeated calls to work for the better future that is there for the taking, but also for the losing -- Julian Baggini * Literary Review *In his new book, Enlightenment Now, cognitive scientist Steven Pinker makes a more convincing case for the sciences benefiting the arts * New Scientist *An excellent book, lucidly written, timely, rich in data and eloquent in its championing of a rational humanism that is - it turns out - really quite cool. * New York Times Book Review *It's easy to feel dour about the future of mankind. But constant, widespread doomsday prophecies are not going to help - it's only going to make matters worse. If every doomsday scenario feels possible, then people are actually disincentivized to take action, says Steven Pinker ... Things like nuclear war and climate change can, with careful and diligent work, be mitigated * CNBC *Pinker has a coherent theory of progress. * Washington Post *Shock therapy for pessimists. * Seattle Times *[Steven Pinker has] become a deep and important critic of the visceral hostility to nature and science now so sadly prevalent on the left and right, a defender of reason and the Enlightenment against the 'social justice' movements on campus, and his new book is a near-relentless defense of modernity. * New York Magazine *[ENLIGHTENMENT NOW] proves that much of the handwringing and doom-saying promulgated in the popular press, academia, and politics can't be justified on the facts. . . it's both a manifesto of ideas that [Bill] Gates himself has espoused through the years, as well as a paean to individuals, like Gates, who have committed their time and money to changing the world for the better. * Inc. *A forceful defense of the democratic, humanist institutions that [Pinker] says brought about these changes, and a declaration that reason, science and humanism can solve the problems to come. * Atlanta Journal-Constitution *Vindication has arrived in the form of Steven Pinker's latest book. ENLIGHTENMENT NOW: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress is remarkable, heart-warming, and long overdue. * Christian Science Monitor *Pinker offers numbers to show that the world has, on the whole, become safer, healthier and wealthier. These benefits are more pronounced in the West, but even in developing countries conditions have improved ... His optimism is resilient * The New York Times *Extremely hopeful... Steven Pinker argues that people are happier, healthier, wealthier, and safer than they've ever been ... we're living in the best moments humans have experienced yet * Business Insider *Pinker is a deep and important critic of the visceral hostility to nature and science now so sadly prevalent on the left and right, a defender of reason and the Enlightenment ... Pinker is right -- Andrew Sullivan * New York Magazine *An erudite defence * Salon *Modern life has gotten much better despite ever-present complaints. Technology has reduced the need for physical labor. Mortality rates are down. IQ scores are on the rise. Wars are less frequent and less deadly ... the Enlightenment's championing of reason, science, humanism and moral progress is a model for our own times * Washington Post *Pinker is right ... Much good news today tends to be underreported, even unreported. Human beings today lead longer, safer, healthier, wealthier and indeed happier lives than at any point in recorded history ... Pinker surveys the stupendous advancements that the human race has made in modern times according to a dizzying range of metrics * Nation *An engaging, compelling set of reasons to be cheerful ... it is a welcome antidote * Nature *The world is better than ever before. And Steven Pinker can prove it. * Vox *A substantial and wide-ranging book on the state of our world today ... In forensic detail, Pinker enumerates the myriad ways in which life is getting better ... The book is packed with statistics vaunting the gifts of progress * Irish Times *After devouring all 453 pages and 75 graphs of psychologist Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now, I admit defeat. The defeat of defeatism. This man has done the math. Since the 18th century things have been getting better in pretty much every dimension of human wellbeing. * Big Think *Steven Pinker has a cure for your despair ... life is better than it has ever been. Pinker's case is compelling * Prospect *Useful and exciting ... Pinker doesn't declaim, he demonstrates - with dozens of graphs and charts - that humankind has spent two centuries winning the battle against entropy in all fields: from health to peace, the environment to democracy, wealth to happiness, to equality between men and women. He asks us crucial questions ... Steven Pinker is right * El Mundo (Spain) *Enlightenment Now seeks to undo, with facts and figures, the pessimism that has paralysed the world ... We must read this book and absorb its message * El Pais (Colombia) *Guys, it's really not that bad. In fact, it's the best it's ever been ... Pinker urges people to look at the bigger picture and dive into the data * New York Post *Things are not as bad as your Facebook news feed makes them seem ... a cheerful, contrarian tract for dark times -- Niall Ferguson * Boston Globe *Compelling ... At a moment when liberal Enlightenment values are under attack, from the right and the left, this is a very important contribution ... An impressive and useful accomplishment * Atlantic *

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Book SynopsisOffering an engaging and accessible portrait of the current state of the field, Philosophy of Science: A New Introduction shows students how to think philosophically about science and why it is both essential and fascinating to do so. Gillian Barker and Philip Kitcher reconsider the core questions in philosophy of science in light of the multitude of changes that have taken place in the decades since the publication of C.G. Hempel's classic work, Philosophy of Natural Science (1966)--both in the field and also in history and sociology of science and the sciences themselves. They explore how philosophical questions are connected to vigorous current debates--including climate change, science and religion, race, intellectual property rights, and medical research priorities--showing how these questions, and philosophers' attempts to answer them, matter in the real world. Featuring numerous illustrative examples and extensive further reading lists, Philosophy of Science: A New Introduction is ideal for courses in philosophy of science, history and philosophy of science, and epistemology/theory of knowledge. It is also compelling and illuminating reading for scientists, science students, and anyone interested in the natural sciences and in their place in global society today.Trade ReviewThis new textbook from Barker and Kitcher is a wonderful attempt to create a new thoroughly more modern kind of general philosophy of science course that embraces the true expansiveness of the field and the modern concern of philosophers to move beyond traditional epistemological and metaphysical debates In a very short space of text, this book makes a highly accessible case for an open and inclusive philosophy of science. * Metascience *This is a fine book. It provides interesting insights into the philosophy of science underpinning most natural-science research Villy Søgaard, University of Southern DenmarkTable of ContentsEACH CHAPTER ENDS WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING; CHAPTER 1: SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY; CHAPTER 2: THE ANALYTIC PROJECT; CHAPTER 3: THE VIEW FROM THE SCIENCES; CHAPTER 4: SCIENCE, HISTORY, AND SOCIETY; CHAPTER 5: CRITICAL VOICES; CHAPTER 6: SCIENCE, VALUES, AND POLITICS

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Book SynopsisFundamentals of Bayesian Epistemology provides an accessible introduction to the key concepts and principles of the Bayesian formalism. This volume introduces degrees of belief as a concept in epistemology and the rules for updating degrees of belief derived from Bayesian principles.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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Book SynopsisResurrects the largely forgotten figure of Velikovsky and uses his strange career and surprisingly influential writings to explore the changing definitions of the line that separates legitimate scientific inquiry from what is deemed bunk and to show how vital this question remains to us today.Trade Review"A slyly funny writer.... Make no mistake: Michael D. Gordin's sympathies are not with the occult. His fascination with pseudoscience is more like a negative method: the experts define the boundaries of their domain by fending off the quacks. For Gordin, pseudoscience is an instrument by which he takes the temperature of the past.... The Pseudoscience Wars is a relatively slim volume, but Gordin siphons into it an overwhelming amount of information." (New Republic) "Those who are interested in how bad ideas start, how they diffuse, how they covet and resist confrontation, and how they wax and wane in popularity over time will find much food for thought in this gripping book." (Science) "Scholarly and highly readable.... Michael D. Gordin's historical analysis of pseudoscience remains disturbingly relevant." (Nature)"

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Book SynopsisWe live in a moment of unprecedented complexity, an era in which change occurs faster than our ability to comprehend it. This books offers a map for the unfamiliar terrain opening in our midst, unfolding an alternative philosophy of our time through a synthesis of science and culture.

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Book SynopsisThis long-overdue volume explores Donna Haraway's influence on feminist theory and philosophy, paying particular attention to her more recent work on companion species, rather than her “Manifesto for Cyborgs.”Trade Review...an invaluable tool for student's wishing to further explore Haraway's work. Critical TheoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments 1. Adventures with Haraway 2. Natures 3. Knowledges 4. Politics 5. Ethics 6. Stories Sowing Worlds: A Seed Bag for Terraforming with Earth Others Appendix: Some Bibliometric Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisPresents the basic approaches underlying Stafford Beera s thinking since the publication of his first book in 1959. Deals with a philosophy of science relevant to management and particularly with the nature of models. Demonstrates all major points through examples quoted of management science applications to industry and government.Table of ContentsTHE NATURE OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH. An Initial Posture. On Fixing Belief. Some Dangerous Precedents. The Wedged Bear. The New Look. THE ACTIVITY OF OPERATIONAL RESEARCH. About Models. Models in Aspic. The Formal Languages. A Walk in the Ramified System. Apollo's Gift. THE RELEVANCE OF CYBERNETICS. About Systems. Coping with Complexity. Controlling Operations. Self-Organizing Systems. Controlling Enterprises. OUTCOMES. The Outcome for Industry. Information and Automation. The Outcome for Government. The Outcome for Management Science. On Practicability. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe world is configured in ways that seem systematically hospitable to life forms, especially the human race. Is this the outcome of divine planning or simply of the laws of physics? This book examines this question and offers fresh historical perspectives on the pantheon of thinkers who laid the foundations of Western philosophy and science.Trade Review"Sedley's argument is subtle and expert... The brilliance of this book is that Sedley lets the Greeks talk to us and, surprisingly, we can understand what they're saying." Nature "The scholarly book [Sedley] has written is golden." -- Jonathan Barnes London Review Of Books "An exemplary study of Greek philosophy, sweeping in vision and exquisite in detail." -- Alexander Nehamas Times Literary Supplement (TLS) "An extraordinarily engaging book... Bold." Bryn Mawr Classical Review (BMCR) "[An] authoritative study by the world's leading expert in the field." Journal Of Hellenic Stds "This is an important and timely volume." Reports Of The National Center For Science EducationTable of ContentsPreface 1 Anaxagoras 2 Empedocles 3 Socrates 4 Plato 5 The Atomists 6 Aristotle 7 The Stoics Epilogue: A Galenic Perspective Bibliography General Index Index Locorum

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Book SynopsisContinental Philosophy of Science provides an expert guide to the major twentieth--century French and German philosophical thinking on science. * A comprehensive introduction by the editor provides a unified interpretative survey of continental work on philosophy of science.Trade Review“Continental philosophers in Britain and the United States have for the most part ignored the enormous contribution of continental philosophy to the philosophy of science, just as philosophers of science in Britain and the United States have done. Gary Gutting has long been a leading exponent of the importance of this contribution and his superb collection, with its many new translations, should go a long way toward turning the tide.” Robert Bernasconi, University of Memphis “This masterful collection of original texts and expert commentary demonstrates Continental philosophers’ rich and diverse engagement with science, dispelling the notion that significant philosophical thinking about science is the sole prerogative of ‘analytic’ philosophers.” Daniel Dahlstrom, Boston University “This book makes a welcome contribution to the secondary literature on the history and philosophy of modern science. Gary Gutting has assembled an impressive gallery of essays, which collectively advance a powerful, if relatively neglected, interpretation of the development of scientific method and practice. The pairing of influential historical figures with leading contemporary commentators is especially valuable.” Daniel W. Conway, The Pennsylvania State UniversityTable of ContentsNotes on Contributors vii Acknowledgments xi Introduction: What Is Continental Philosophy of Science 1Gary Gutting Hegel 17 1 Speculative Naturphilosophie and the Development of the Empirical Sciences: Hegel’s Perspective 19Terry Pinkard 2 Naturphilosophie 35G W F Hegel Bergson 41 3 Bergson’s spiritualist metaphysics and the sciences 43Jean Gayon 4 Psycho-physical parallelism and positive metaphysics 59Henri Bergson Cassirer 69 5 Ernst Cassirer and the Philosophy of Science 71Michael Friedman 6 From Substance and Function 84Ernst Cassirer Husserl 91 7 Science as a Triumph of the Human Spirit and Science in Crisis: Husserl and the Fortunes of Reason 93Richard Tieszen 8 From the Introduction to the Logical Investigations and from The Crisis of the European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology 113Edmund Husserl Heidegger 121 9 Heidegger on Science and Naturalism 123Joseph Rouse 10 From On “Time and Being” 142Martin Heidegger Bachelard 155 11 Technology, Science, and Inexact Knowledge: Bachelard’s Non-Cartesian Epistemology 157Mary Tiles 12 From Essai sur la connaissance approchée 176Gaston Bachelard Canguilhem 185 13 Reassessing the Historical Epistemology of Georges Canguilhem 187Hans-Jörg Rheinberger 14 The Object of the History of Sciences 198 Georges Canguilhem Foucault 209 15 Foucault’s Philosophy of Science: Structures of Truth/Structures of Power 211Linda Martín Alcoff 16 From The History of Sexuality, vol. I: An Introduction 224Michel Foucault Deleuze 237 17 Gilles Deleuze, Difference, and Science 239Todd May 18 From What Is Philosophy 258Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari Irigarary 263 19 On Asking the Wrong Question "In Science, Is the Subject Sexed?" 265Penelope Deutscher 20 In Science, Is the Subject Sexed 283Luce Irigaray Habermas 293 21 Bisected Rationality: The Frankfurt School’s Critique of Science 295Axel Honneth 22 Knowledge and Human Interest: A General Perspective 310Jürgen Habermas Index 322

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Book SynopsisFor decades neuroscientists understood sensory perception as a matter of external stimuli “sparking” regions of the brain. But this view has a key flaw: odors don’t line up consistently with the neural map. A. S. Barwich explores the new science of smell and urges us to rethink theories of mind and brain inspired by the mapping model.Trade ReviewThis is a special book…Barwich does philosophy that is empirically directed and historically informed. It teaches readers a lot about olfaction. It teaches us even more about what philosophy can be. -- Rachel Fraser * Times Literary Supplement *Seeks to banish entrenched prejudice against the nose. Barwich…argues that we could discover far more about consciousness if we would only relinquish our old-school fixation on sight…Rather than mapping the external world and constructing an accurate representation of it in the brain, our sense of smell seems to involve a continuous, ever-shifting negotiation between our interior and exterior lives. * Harper’s *Lively, authoritative…Aims to rehabilitate smell’s neglected and marginalized status. -- Mike Jay * Wall Street Journal *Barwich writes with charm and precision about our preconceptions of how the olfactory system works and how it is different from the other sensory mechanisms that keep us alive and (relatively) safe…An illuminating discussion of the interface between the logical coherence of philosophy and the empirical disciplines of science. -- Michael Bywater * The Spectator *Barwich melds a philosophical perspective with a rich history of olfactory science, tackling big questions with layers of perceptual, psychological, and neurobiological explanations…She offers rich discussions of olfactory perception, the conscious and subconscious impacts of smell on behavior and emotion, and the physical and behavioral details that determine what odors we inhale, furnishing broad insights into the psychology of olfaction. -- John P. McGann * Science *A beguiling analysis of olfactory experience that is fast becoming a core reference work in the field. -- Joe Humphreys * Irish Times *Barwich takes us deeper into the human stories, key advances, and dead ends of olfaction science, interspersed with philosophical theory…A timely dispatch from the research trenches, surveying a field in flux. -- Barbara Kiser * Issues in Science and Technology *An impressive work…Undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive and accessible studies of olfaction…Barwich brilliantly dovetails psychology with neurophysiology, detailing how olfaction operates by markedly distinct principles of neural representation in comparison with vision, audition, and somatosensation. -- Ekin Erkan * Perception *Barwich guides the reader into the fascinating science (both historical and contemporary) of odors and olfaction. -- Brad Thompson * The Philosophers’ Magazine *Finding out why mint smells different from a skunk’s spray turns out to be a much harder problem than why red looks different from blue. Barwich tells the fascinating story of why the science of smell has gone down many a false trail, and why the sciences of vision and audition made breakthroughs while olfaction remained mired in mystery. Smellosophy taught me a lot about my brain’s smelly world. -- Patricia Churchland, author of Conscience: The Origins of Moral IntuitionA. S. Barwich’s new book, written with passion and infectious delight, unites history, art, philosophy, and in-depth interviews with pioneers in modern olfaction science. The result will enhance every reader’s appreciation for the role of smell in human life. -- Gordon M. Shepherd, author of Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It MattersLewis Thomas famously remarked that smell contains ‘all the mysteries’ of biology; figure it out and you will have solved most of them. A. S. Barwich is a superb documentarian of the science behind how the brain detects an enormous range of odorous molecules, while also capturing the wonder of perceiving complex smells that form lasting emotional memories. Smellosophy is a unique and wondrous blend of the science of smell, the art and practice of research, the philosophy of consciousness, and ‘all the mysteries’ in between. -- Stuart Firestein, author of Ignorance: How It Drives ScienceThis is the book on perception we have been waiting for: a scientifically-informed and philosophically astute treatment of our elusive sense of smell. A. S. Barwich skillfully guides us through the history of its study, recent discoveries, and philosophical theorizing about smell, and, in doing so, makes a significant contribution to all three. -- Barry C. Smith, Centre for the Study of the Senses, University of LondonFabulous…[A] serious work that [has] brought me a great deal of pleasure. -- Victoria Moore * Daily Telegraph *A love letter to olfaction. This book effortlessly blends science and philosophy and is a must-read for anyone with a sense of smell. -- Leslie B. Vosshall, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The Rockefeller UniversityWell-written and engaging, Smellosophy transforms the breakdown of complex concepts into a really good read. This book is an astonishing integration of all aspects of olfaction, relevant to scientists across disciplines as well as to any reader interested in the aromas of wine, coffee, and other scents hidden in our daily experiences. -- Ann Noble, creator of the Wine Aroma WheelBarwich brings the curious science of smell to life through interviews with many of its key players. If you relish mysteries and constructing the logic to solve them, read Smellosophy. -- Terry Acree, Department of Food Science, Cornell UniversityMakes a strong case for rethinking the scientific study of odor perception…Smellosophy works to shape olfaction studies—and neuroscience writ large. -- Nedah N. Nemati * History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences *Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people temporarily lost their ability to detect smell (and the closely connected sense of taste), this book’s topic is an impetus for important scientific exploration…Smellosophy makes a strong case for rethinking the scientific study of odor perception. -- David Upegui * American Biology Teacher *

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Book SynopsisPhilosopher Daniel Milo offers a vigorous critique of the quasi-monopoly that Darwin’s natural selection has on our idea of the natural world. In popular thought, Darwinism has even acquired the trappings of an ethical system, focused on optimization, competition, and innovation. Yet in nature, imperfect creatures often have the evolutionary edge.Trade ReviewTakes aim at this image of evolution as relentless improvement. -- Gregory Radick * Times Literary Supplement *Good Enough wonders why evolutionary biologists shun the scientific thinking called the null hypothesis… Some of nature’s wonders might be happy accidents, rather than masterpieces of adaptation… It is a charming argument, suited to lazy, sunny afternoons: ‘Why should we struggle and strain when we are all good enough?’ -- Simon Ings * New Scientist *Bold but carefully reasoned…An argument that pays reverence to Darwin as revolutionary thinker while nonetheless insisting that both he and many others have indeed ‘extend[ed] too far the action of natural selection.’…Milo insists that nature is full not of excellence but of mediocrity—not cut-throat competitive champions but merely the manifold forms of life that survive just well enough not to die…Good Enough is an important intervention that boasts none of the mediocrity that Milo finds everywhere at work—or rather, asleep on the job—in the natural world. -- Ben Murphy * PopMatters *A thought-provoking critique of the dominance of adaptationist explanations. He argues that, while natural selection is important, it is not the only, possibly not even the default mechanism, in evolution. No, Milo claims, the mediocre also survive and thrive…Insightful and unsettling…What a fantastic book! -- Leon Villager * Inquisitive Biologist *Milo aims to give the messy side of nature its due—to stand up for the wasteful and inefficient organisms that nevertheless survive and multiply…Imperfection is not just good enough: it may at times be essential to survival. * Southeastern Naturalist *Stimulating. * La Recherche *Through a marshaling of facts and a careful reading of scientific opinions, Milo shows himself to be a persuasive analyst and historical detective, revealing critical sides of the evolution argument that have often been ignored. The book, full of humor and unexpected examples, showcases Milo’s skill for storytelling. -- Marc Kirschner, Founding Chair, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard UniversityGood Enough is a book that changes key cultural assumptions, offering a radical revision of the ideas of evolution and selection. Daniel Milo argues that nature follows the law of inertia, makes do with mediocrity, and relies on chance rather than maximization. It is a rare book that will leave a lasting impact on scientific discourse and on popular imagination. -- Eva Illouz, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, ParisIn this salutary essay, Daniel Milo tells biologists with delight what they already know but never confess. Rooting his argument in the genesis of Darwin’s theory, Milo emphasizes the place of the mediocre, the useless, and the level-down in natural variation. Without contradicting the power of natural selection, Good Enough suggests that the long tails of trait variation govern survival more than optimization, subsequently shaping the diversity of life. -- Nicolas Gompel, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich

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

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

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Book SynopsisDiscusses symmetry and asymmetry in contemporary physics and tells the story of how contemporary theoretical physicists are following Einstein in their search for the beauty and simplicity of nature.Trade Review"Zee's exposition of the intuitive use by modern theoretical physicists of the concept of symmetry ... in order to fathom nature's laws is superb scientific reading."--Publishers Weekly "[Zee] demonstrates effortless competence over a wide area of theoretical physics. He also displays great enthusiasm and excitement for his subject, which many readers will find infectious."--James W. McAllister, ISIS, A Journal of the History of Science SocietyTable of ContentsForeword xi Preface 1999 xv Preface xvii acknowledgements xix I Symmetry and Design 1 1. In Search of Beauty 3 2. Symmetry and Simplicity 8 3. The Far Side of the Mirror 22 II Einstein's Legacy, 49 4. Marriage of Time and Space 51 5. A Happy Thought 76 6. Symmetry Dictates Design 95 III Into The Limelight 101 7. Where the action is not 103 8. The lady and the Tyger 113 9. Learning to Read the Great Book 122 10. Symmetry Triumphs 133 IV To Know His Thoughts 151 11. The Eightfold Path in the Forest of the Night 153 12. The Revenge of Art 185 13. The Ultimate Design Problem 210 14. The Unity of Forces 228 15. The Rise of Hubris 255 16. The Mind of the Creator 275 Afterword 285 Appendix to Chapter 9 297 Appendix to the Afterword 301 Notes 321 Index 345

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

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Book SynopsisThis book gives concise, accurate and illuminating accounts of key positions, concepts, arguments and figures in the philosophy of science. It aids understanding of current debates, explains their historical development and connects them with broader philosophical issues.

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Book SynopsisCould a computer have a mind? What kind of machine would this be? Exactly what do we mean by ''mind'' anyway?The notion of the ''intelligent'' machine, whilst continuing to feature in numerous entertaining and frightening fictions, has also been the focus of a serious and dedicated research tradition. Reflecting on these fictions, and on the research tradition that pursues ''Artificial Intelligence'', raises a number of vexing philosophical issues. Minds and Computers introduces readers to these issues by offering an engaging, coherent, and highly approachable interdisciplinary introduction to the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence.Readers are presented with introductory material from each of the disciplines which constitute Cognitive Science: Philosophy, Neuroscience, Psychology, Computer Science, and Linguistics. Throughout, readers are encouraged to consider the implications of this disparate and wide-ranging material for the possibility of developing machines with minds. And they can expect to deTrade ReviewThis book is an excellent introduction to some of the most important problems within the philosophy of artificial intelligence... Carter's book is in fact highly interdisciplinary, but he has clearly succeeded in integrating some very crucial topics regarding artificial intelligence in a clever and thought-provoking manner... The book will be an excellent choice as a textbook to be used for a university course introducing important and interesting problems within the philosophy of artificial intelligence. History and Philosophy of Logic Like good science fiction, Matt Carter's Minds and Computers essentially constitutes an exploration into what makes human beings what they are... [It] is a teaching tool par excellence and should find its way into every classroom where the philosophy of mind is being studied. Heythrop Journal

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Book SynopsisThe new edition of this authoritative introduction to the philosophy of technology includes recent developments in the subject, while retaining the range and depth of its selection of seminal contributions and its much-admired editorial commentary.Table of ContentsSource Acknowledgments ix Introduction to the Second Edition xiii Part I The Historical Background 1 Introduction 3 1 On Dialectic and “Technē” 9 Plato 2 On “Technē” and “Epistēmē” 19 Aristotle 3 The Greek Concepts of “Nature” and “Technique” 25 Wolfgang Schadewaldt 4 On the Idols, the Scientific Study of Nature, and the Reformation of Education 33 Francis Bacon 5 Idea for a Universal History from a Cosmopolitan Point of View 47 Immanuel Kant 6 The Nature and Importance of the Positive Philosophy 54 Auguste Comte 7 On the Sciences and Arts 68 Jean-Jacques Rousseau 8 Capitalism and the Modern Labor Process 74 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Part II Philosophy, Modern Science, and Technology 89 Positivist and Postpositivist Philosophies of Science 91 9 The Scientific Conception of the World: The Vienna Circle 101 Rudolf Carnap, Hans Hahn, and Otto Neurath 10 Paradigms and Anomalies in Science 111 Thomas Kuhn 11 Experimentation and Scientific Realism 121 Ian Hacking 12 Hermeneutical Philosophy and Pragmatism: A Philosophy of Science 131 Patrick A. Heelan and Jay Schulkin 13 What are Cultural Studies of Science? 147 Joseph Rouse 14 Revaluing Science: Starting from the Practices of Women 161 Nancy Tuana 15 Is Science Multicultural? 171 Sandra Harding 16 On Knowledge and the Diversity of Cultures: Comment on Harding 183 Shigehisa Kuriyama The Task of a Philosophy of Technology 187 17 Philosophical Inputs and Outputs of Technology 191 Mario Bunge 18 Analytic Philosophy of Technology 201 Maarten Franssen 19 On the Aims of a Philosophy of Technology 205 Jacques Ellul 20 Toward a Philosophy of Technology 210 Hans Jonas 21 The Technology Question in Feminism: A View from Feminist Technology Studies 224 Wendy Faulkner Part III Defining Technology 239 Introduction 241 22 Conflicting Visions of Technology 249 Mary Tiles and Hans Oberdiek 23 The Mangle of Practice 260 Andrew Pickering 24 The Social Construction of Facts and Artifacts 266 Trevor J. Pinch and Wiebe E. Bijker 25 Actor-Network Theory (ANT) 278 Bruno Latour 26 Actor-Network Theory: Critical Considerations 289 Sergio Sismondo Part IV Heidegger on Technology 297 Introduction 299 27 The Question Concerning Technology 305 Martin Heidegger 28 On Philosophy’s “Ending” in Technoscience: Heidegger vs. Comte 318 Robert C. Scharff 29 Focal Things and Practices 329 Albert Borgmann 30 Heidegger and Borgmann on How to Affirm Technology 350 Hubert L. Dreyfus and Charles Spinosa 31 Philosophy of Technology at the Crossroads: Critique of Heidegger and Borgmann 362 Andrew Feenberg Part V Technology and Human Ends 375 Human Beings as “Makers” or “Tool-Users”? 377 32 Tool Users vs. Homo Sapiens and the Megamachine 381 Lewis Mumford 33 The “Vita Activa” and the Modern Age 389 Hannah Arendt 34 Putting Pragmatism (especially Dewey’s) to Work 406 Larry Hickman 35 Buddhist Economics 421 E. F. Schumacher Is Technology Autonomous? 426 36 The “Autonomy” of the Technological Phenomenon 430 Jacques Ellul 37 Do Machines Make History? 442 Robert L. Heilbroner 38 The New Forms of Control 449 Herbert Marcuse 39 Technological Determinism Is Dead; Long Live Technological Determinism 456 Sally Wyatt Technology, Ecology, and the Conquest of Nature 467 40 Mining the Earth’s Womb 471 Carolyn Merchant 41 The Deep Ecology Movement 482 Bill Devall 42 Deeper than Deep Ecology: The Eco-Feminist Connection 491 Ariel Salleh 43 In Defense of Posthuman Dignity 495 Nick Bostrom Part VI Technology as Social Practice 503 Technology and the Lifeworld 505 44 Cultural Climates and Technological Advance in the Middle Ages 511 Lynn White, Jr. 45 Three Ways of Being-With Technology 523 Carl Mitcham 46 A Phenomenology of Technics 539 Don Ihde 47 Postphenomenology of Technology 561 Peter-Paul Verbeek 48 Technoscience Studies after Heidegger? Not Yet 573 Robert C. Scharff Technology and Cyberspace 582 49 Consciousness in Human and Robot Minds 588 Daniel C. Dennett 50 Why Heideggerian AI Failed and How Fixing It Would Require Making It More Heideggerian 597 Hubert L. Dreyfus 51 A Cyborg Manifesto: Science, Technology, and Socialist Feminism in the Late Twentieth Century 610 Donna Haraway 52 A Moratorium on Cyborgs: Computation, Cognition, and Commerce 631 Evan Selinger and Timothy Engström 53 Anonymity versus Commitment: The Dangers of Education on the Internet 641 Hubert L. Dreyfus Technology, Knowledge, and Power 648 54 Panopticism 654 Michel Foucault 55 Do Artifacts Have Politics? 668 Langdon Winner 56 The Social Impact of Technological Change 680 Emmanuel G. Mesthene 57 Technology: The Opiate of the Intellectuals, with the Author’s 2000 Retrospective 693 John McDermott 58 Democratic Rationalization: Technology, Power, and Freedom 706 Andrew Feenberg

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Tano S. Posteraro focuses on Bergson's theory of evolution. He presents an alternative Bergson: not a phenomenologist whose central datum is the conscious experience of lived time or the lived body in time, but a systematic philosopher of biology with a robust, prescient and largely workable evolutionary programme.

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Book SynopsisLike fast food, fast science is quickly prepared, not particularly good, and it clogs up the system. Efforts to tackle our most pressing issues have been stymied by conflict within the scientific community and mixed messages symptomatic of a rushed approach. What is more, scientific research is being shaped by the bubbles and crashes associated with economic speculation and the market. A focus on conformism, competitiveness, opportunism and flexibility has made it extremely difficult to present cases of failure to the public, for fear that it will lose confidence in science altogether. In this bold new book, distinguished philosopher Isabelle Stengers shows that research is deeply intertwined with broader social interests, which means that science cannot race ahead in isolation but must learn instead to slow down. Stengers offers a path to an alternative science, arguing that researchers should stop seeing themselves as the 'thinking, rational brain of humanity' and refuse to allow their expertise to be used to shut down the concerns of the public, or to spread the belief that scientific progress is inevitable and will resolve all of society's problems. Rather, science must engage openly and honestly with an intelligent public and be clear about the kind of knowledge it is capable of producing. This timely and accessible book will be of great interest to students, scholars and policymakers in a wide range of fields, as well anyone concerned with the role of science and its future.Trade Review"Today, more than ever before, we need this book. Stengers, a philosopher known internationally for her willingness to tackle the big questions of our time, insists that Another Science is Possible. Toughly and tightly argued her book spells out how 'slow science' could get us there. One key point she raises, missed by so many, is the disillusion and distress, Marx might well have said alienation, of the young scientists who find that the science they believed they were going to be part of, is not the science they are working within. Only crack heads can deny climate change and its threat to life itself, but flinching, and looking away from the necessity of transforming science is politically and ethically inadequate. Stengers offers the new generation that is rising up with its new political narrative, intellectual weaponry in the formidable project of turning science away from its destructive collaboration with neoliberal capital to help build - yes - a better world. And don't we need one!"—Hilary Rose, Emerita Professor of Social Policy, University of Bradford "Stengers's slow science manifesto is timely, trenchant and thoughtful."—NatureTable of Contents1 Towards a Public Intelligence of the Sciences 1 2 Researchers with the Right Stuff 23 3 Sciences and Values: How Can we Slow Down? 48 4 Ludwik Fleck, Thomas Kuhn and the Challenge of Slowing Down the Sciences 83 5 ‘Another Science is Possible!’ A Plea for Slow Science 106 6 Cosmopolitics: Civilising Modern Practices 133 Notes 157

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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 Synopsis-- What is the true nature of water and does it have memory?-- By working with the rhythm and flow of water, can we increase its life-giving power?Water is not only fundamental to life but is essential for the cycles and changes in nature. John Wilkes argues as well that water is the universal bearer of whatever character we put into it. For this reason the way we treat water is of crucial importance to our health, and to the well-being of our planet.Working with his remarkable invention, the Flowform, Wilkes has uncovered hidden secrets of the world of water, and at the same time created an artform of great beauty. His lifetime of applied research into rhythms and water, fully revealed in this book for the first time, has startling implications for such topical issues as farming and irrigation; food production and processing; water treatment and recycling; and health and cosmetic products.This ground-breaking book is lavishly illustrated to show both the beauty of the Flowform and the wide range of its applications.Trade Review'With extraordinary depth of vision, Wilkes shares more than thirty years of accumulated ideas, experiments, experiences and creative, innovative designs with water. Benefits from many photographs and illustrations.'-- Maggie Lee, Resurgence, May 2004'John Wilkes patented his first Flowform water sculpture over 30 years ago. This is the story of his studies into the nature and behaviour of water and the pioneering development of the special water sculptures. Detailed accounts of research are richly illustrated, including many beautiful images of the swirling patterns. The book is full of both scientific observations and a celebration of the beauty and wonder of water, and the beauty and wonder of the sculptures it has inspired John Wilkes and his team to create.'-- Kathleen Askew, Permaculture, March 2004'One of the aims of the book is to raise our consciousness about water and get us to reassess our attitude to it and in this it most definitely succeeds. With the aid of copious photographs, drawings and diagrams, our attention is drawn to how much life there is in water. I found this an extremely interesting, informative and attractive book.'-- Rosemary Usselman, New View, December 2003'Contains many beautiful illustrations of water-in-motion from rivers and waterfalls, to the art of designing water features for a garden.'-- Pentacle, Spring 2004Table of ContentsPart 1: Rhythm and polarity1. Water and rhythm2. Rhythm and flow: the water cycle3. MetamorphosisPart 2: Discovering the Flowform4. Experimenting with water5. Discovery of the Flowform Method6. The Flowform and the Living WorldPart 3: Applications and Research7. Järna: the first major Flowform project8. The next generation of Flowforms9. The Metamorphic Sequence10. Research with Cascades11. Flowform related developments12. The Flowform throughout the World13. Present and FutureAppendix 1: MetamorphosisAppendix 2: Flowform types, designs and applicationsAppendix 3: Scientific and technical aspectsAppendix 4: Virbela Rhythm Research Institute

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Book SynopsisDr Francis S. Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, is one of the world's leading scientists, working at the cutting edge of the study of DNA, the code of life. Yet he is also a man of unshakable faith in God. How does he reconcile the seemingly unreconcilable? In THE LANGUAGE OF GOD he explains his own journey from atheism to faith, and then takes the reader on a stunning tour of modern science to show that physics, chemistry and biology -- indeed, reason itself -- are not incompatible with belief. His book is essential reading for anyone who wonders about the deepest questions of all: why are we here? How did we get here? And what does life mean?

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This Will Change Everything offers seemingly radical but actually feasible ideas with the potential to change the world. " -- Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Keen and elegantly raw. ... Not just a morality tale but a probe sent into the world of technology. ... Richtel draws all the characters with a fine brush, a delicacy that treats misery both respectfully and front-on." -- Christian Science Monitor (One of the 10 Best Nonfiction Books of the Year) "Richtel's compassionate and persuasive book deserves a spot next to Fast Food Nation and To Kill a Mockingbird in America's high school curriculums. To say it may save lives is self-evident." -- New York Times Book Review (Editor's Choice) "Americans are addicted to their technology, putting us on a modern day collision course with very real consequences. Matt Richtel brilliantly tells the story of the aftermath of a deadly distracted driving crash. His portrait is riveting. I could not stop reading, and neither will you." -- Ray LaHood, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation "A portrait of our digital age that will deeply frighten you and cause you to reevaluate many common aspects of your 'connected' life. ... An extraordinarily important book that everyone-and I mean everyone-should read." -- Douglas Preston, co-author of The Monster of Florence "A masterpiece of reporting, insight, and empathy. ... A beautiful, cautionary tale that reads like a novel, and that we disregard at our risk." -- Robert Kurson, author of Shadow Divers "A Deadly Wandering is more than a page-turner. It's a book that can save lives." -- Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows "Matt Richtel's riveting book is narrative nonfiction at its finest. ... This book should be placed in every school and legislative chamber in the country." -- Jon Huntsman, former governor of Utah "This book does that most amazing of feats: it makes cutting-edge scientific research feel relevant to the choices we make every time we get in a car, sit at a desk, or talk to our friends and family." -- Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit "A gripping book. ... This is human drama and the latest knowledge about obsessive technology woven together in memorable style." -- Ralph Nader, author of Unsafe at Any Speed "A compelling, highly emotional, and profoundly important story." -- Kirkus Reviews (Starred; a Best Book of the Year) "Illuminates the perils of information overload... Raises fascinating and troubling issues about the cognitive impact of our technology." -- Publishers Weekly Intensely gripping, compelling, and sobering... A Deadly Wandering gives the potentially lethal risks of the digital age a very human face -- one which we can, if we're honest, readily see in the mirror." -- Winnipeg Free Press (A Best Book of the Year) "Exhaustively researched. ... Richtel brings a novelist's knack for unspooling narrative conflict to bear on Shaw's real-life drama." -- San Francisco Chronicle (A Best Book of the Year) "Each page is... irresistible. ... A richly detailed and compellingly readable exploration of the 'clash' between our brains and the electronic devices that, for many of us, have become essential to 'every facet of life.'" -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Book SynopsisVaclav Smil is my favorite author… Numbers Don't Lie takes everything that makes his writing great and boils it down into an easy-to-read format. I unabashedly recommend this book to anyone who loves learning.--Bill Gates, GatesNotesFrom the author of How the World Really Works, an essential guide to understanding how numbers reveal the true state of our world--exploring a wide range of topics including energy, the environment, technology, transportation, and food production.Vaclav Smil's mission is to make facts matter. An environmental scientist, policy analyst, and a hugely prolific author, he is Bill Gates' go-to guy for making sense of our world. In Numbers Don't Lie, Smil answers questions such as: What's worse for the environment--your car or your phone? How much do the world's cows weigh (and what does it matter)? And what makes people happy? From data about our societies and populations, through measures of the

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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 SynopsisChallenges long-standing linear notions of scientific progress, arguing that transformative ideas don't arise from the day-to-day, gradual process of experimentation and data accumulation, but that revolutions in science, those breakthrough moments that disrupt accepted thinking and offer unanticipated ideas, occur outside of normal science.Trade Review"Thomas S. Kuhn didn't invent the phrase paradigm shift, but he popularized it and gave it the meaning it has today. He also triggered one when he published The Structure of Scientific Revolutions in 1962.... After Kuhn, we can no longer ignore the fact that however powerful science is, it's as flawed as the scientists who do it." -Time, All-Time 100 Best Nonfiction Books "Occasionally there emerges a book which has an influence far beyond its originally intended audience.... Thomas S. Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions... has clearly emerged as just such a work." -Ron Johnston, Times Higher Education Supplement "The book really did change 'the image of science by which we are now possessed.' Forever." -Ian Hacking, from the Introduction "Perhaps the best explanation of the process of discovery." -William Irwin Thompson, New York Times Book Review "A landmark in intellectual history which has attracted attention far beyond its own immediate field.... If causing a revolution is the hallmark of a superior paradigm, Structure has been a resounding success." -Nicholas Wade, Science "Among the most influential academic books in this century." -Choice"

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Book SynopsisZoo Ethics examines the workings of modern zoos and considers the core ethical challenges faced by people who choose to hold and display animals in zoos, aquariums, or sanctuaries. Jenny Gray asserts the value of animal life and assesses the impacts of modern zoos, including the costs to animals in terms of welfare and the loss of liberty. Gray...Trade ReviewThis text is a meticulous examination of ethical considerations pertaining to zoos and their practices.... The book considers a range of ethical issues, including animal welfare, animal rights, consequentialism, virtue theory, and environmental ethics of the conservation of species. Gray thoughtfully considers these topics in the context of the history of zoos' treatment of animals, both as trained spectacles and in terms of housing.... Overall, this is a provocative, educational resource for students and professionals alike. * Choice *An exercise in applied ethics, bringing together ethical frameworks with real information about the ways zoos are run, and their positive and negative impacts.... This book succeeds in giving a sense of the depth of the problem of defining and operating an ethical zoo, and as the author concludes: "It is possible for zoos to be operated ethically. Yet it is not easy" (p. 208). * Quarterly Review of Biology *Zoo ethics is best suited to those with an interest in animal welfare and ethics, zoo and wildlife medicine and anyone who feels 'moral disquiet' about zoos. Calling on zoo professionals to rise to the challenge of transforming zoos using compassionate conservation, Gray recognises that many zoos cannot continue to ignore the needs of their animals. This book is a thoughtprovoking addition to the field of animal and zoo ethics. * Australian Veterinary Journal *I very much appreciate the quality of thought and nuance the author brings to this book, and I am recommending it because it is a superior example of a book on the modern-day ethics of human uses of animals. * Science Scope *Dr. Gray writes with clear vision of the future roles of zoos as hubs of local and international conservation, teachers of environmental responsibility, and world-class animal care and welfare. It is clear from her writing she will bring the same vision and expectation of excellence into her role as the president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This book is a valuable resource for zoo professionals, providing insight into how zoos can stay relevant in the 21st century. It is also a useful background for members of the public who are interested in the inner workings of zoos, or anyone interested in ethical considerations of working with animals. * Zoo Biology *Table of ContentsForeword Photo Ark Preface Acknowledgements Introduction – of beetles, people and zoos Terminology 1. Introduction to applied ethics and zoos 2. The modern zoo 3. The moral disquiet with zoos 4. Animal welfare 5. Animal rights beyond welfare 6. Consequentialism 7. Virtue theory 8. Environmental ethics 9. Conclusion Wicked problems Further reading Index

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Book Synopsis Biocentrism shocked the world with a radical rethinking of the nature of reality. But that was just the beginning. In Beyond Biocentrism, acclaimed biologist Robert Lanza, one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in 2014," and leading astronomer Bob Berman, take the reader on an intellectual thrill-ride as they re-examine everything we thought we knew about life, death, the universe, and the nature of reality itself.The first step is acknowledging that our existing model of reality is looking increasingly creaky in the face of recent scientific discoveries. Science tells us with some precision that the universe is 26.8 percent dark matter, 68.3 percent dark energy, and only 4.9 percent ordinary matter, but must confess that it doesn't really know what dark matter is and knows even less about dark energy. Science is increasingly pointing toward an infinite universe but has no ability to explain what that really means. Concepts such as time, space, and even causality are increasingly being demonstrated as meaningless.All of science is based on information passing through our consciousness but science hasn't the foggiest idea what consciousness is, and it can't explain the linkage between subatomic states and observation by conscious observers. Science describes life as a random occurrence in a dead universe but has no real understanding of how life began or why the universe appears to be exquisitely designed for the emergence of life.The biocentrism theory isn't a rejection of science. Quite the opposite. Biocentrism challenges us to fully accept the implications of the latest scientific findings in fields ranging from plant biology and cosmology to quantum entanglement and consciousness.By listening to what the science is telling us, it becomes increasingly clear that life and consciousness are fundamental to any true understanding of the universe. This forces a fundamental rethinking of everything we thought we knew about life, death, and our place in the universe.Trade Review"Lanza and Berman employ cutting edge science to rediscover ancient truths about life and death and reconceptualize our very notions of reality and consciousness. Beyond Biocentrism is an enlightening and fascinating journey that will forever alter your understanding of your own existence."—Deepak Chopra"This intriguing and provocative book will challenge some of what you know and push you into rethinking your view of science—all the while entertaining you with a fast-paced, exhilarating narrative journey."—David J. Eicher, editor in chief, Astronomy Magazine"Beyond Biocentrism is a joyride through the history of science and cutting-edge physics, all with a very serious purpose: to find the long-overlooked connection between the conscious self and the universe around us."—Corey S. Powell, former editor-in-chief, Discover magazine"[Beyond Biocentrism] offers a neurobiological point of view to help answer questions about the world around us. Lanza and Berman make the journey towards a better understanding of the role of consciousness and perception. . . . A fun read."—Kwang-Soo Kim, professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, and director, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, McLean Hospital "Lanza and Berman's latest statement of their theory of ‘biocentrism' changes the way we think about age-old religious questions such as the origin of the universe and human immortality. Based on cutting edge work in physics and biology and explained with exceptional clarity, Beyond Biocentrism is a must-read for anyone interested in science and religion."—Ronald M. Green, professor emeritus for the study of ethics and human values, and former chairman of the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College "Will machines ever achieve consciousness? Are plants aware? Is death an illusion? These are some of the big questions tackled in Beyond Biocentrism, which serves up a new, biology-based theory of everything that is as delightful to read as it is fascinating. Tremendously clear and lovely writing—a huge achievement."—Pamela Weintraub, psychology & health editor for Aeon Magazine, former Executive Editor of Discover Magazine and former editor in chief of OMNI MagazinePraise for Biocentrism:"An extraordinary mind. . . . Having interviewed some of the most brilliant minds in the scientific world, I found Dr. Robert Lanza's insights into the nature of consciousness original and exciting. His theory of biocentrism is consistent with the most ancient traditions of the world which say that consciousness conceives, governs, and becomes a physical world. It is the ground of our Being in which both subjective and objective reality come into existence."—Deepak Chopra"This is a brave new book. Instead of placing life as an accidental byproduct, the authors place life at the apex of universal existence and purpose. It is a very thrilling and disturbing read. While the proposals made in Biocentrism seem radical and counter-intuitive at first, a bit of reflection will soon make the images clearer and place us on the pathway to a better and more commonsensical mindset."—Michael Gooch, author of Wingtips with Spurs"Both interesting and worth the effort of reading it . . . From the way [Lanza] chooses to present his arguments, it's clear he has a solid grasp of esoteric disciplines . . . His style is conversational . . . And his sense of wonder . . . is as infectious as it is delightful."—Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisEinstein introduced quantum entanglement in 1935 and referred to it as spooky actions at a distance because it seemed to conflict with his theory of special relativity. Today, some refer to it as the greatest mystery in physics and the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics was even awarded for experimental confirmation of the spookiness. While the mystery is experimentally well-established, its solution remains elusive because it is commonly believed that quantum entanglement entails that quantum mechanics is incomplete, that the world works according to spooky actions at a distance, that causes from the future create effects in the present, that there is superdeterministic causal control of experimental procedures, that people can correctly disagree on the outcome of one and the same experiment, and that a single experimental measurement can produce all possible outcomes. In this book, a rigorous solution to the mystery of quantum entanglement is provided that entails none of those things. The key to this seemingly impossible feat is - to use Einstein''s own language - a principle explanation that foregoes the need for any constructive explanation of quantum entanglement, such as those listed above. Ironically, the proposed principle explanation is Einstein''s own relativity principle as grounded in quantum information theory. So contrary to popular belief, quantum mechanics and special relativity are far from inconsistent, as both are a consequence of the exact same relativity principle.

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