Philosophy of science Books

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Book SynopsisAimed at graduate students and researchers, this book offers a rich context for the famously controversial 1935 paper by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen. It uncovers hidden stories and traces intricate connections, bringing new players into the debate on the foundations of quantum mechanics.

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Book SynopsisThis eye-opener illuminates controversies surrounding widely used statistical methods across the physical, social, and biological sciences. New solutions to philosophical problems of induction, falsification, science vs. pseudoscience are put to work to let statisticians and reproducibility researchers get beyond hardened conceptual disagreements.Trade Review'Deborah G. Mayo argues forcefully for a frequentist position on statistical inference, and it is a pleasure to see how passionately she treats the various issues analyzed. Her writing style is highly engaging and conversational: in her frequent recourses to the first person, one can almost hear the dialogue between herself and the various people with whom she debates. The book is at the same time of highest scientific quality. It may qualify as one of the liveliest books on the philosophy of statistical inference.' Gerd Gigerenzer, Max Planck Institute for Human Development'Written as a series of tours and excursions, Deborah G. Mayo's lively book revisits the foundations of statistical inference from a simple and clear premise: only trust results that pass `severe tests'. Her ideas can be thought of as a modern, more complete version of Popper's notion of falsifiability. She goes beyond the usual Bayesian versus frequentist controversy and deals with pressing practical issues such as the crisis in scientific reproducibility. Whether you agree or disagree with her ideas, you will find the journey entertaining and thought provoking.' Larry Wasserman, Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania'An extraordinary and enlightening grand tour through centuries of philosophical discourse underpinning modern statistics. Mayo's important contribution to this discourse, the severity principle, offers clarifying insight to several of the statistical conundrums all too often confounding even the brightest of modern data analysts and statistical theorists. I look forward to severity calculations eventually appearing alongside confidence intervals in statistical computer programs and journal discussions of findings.' Steven McKinney, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre'Whether or not you agree with her basic stance on statistical inference, if you are interested in the subject, and all scientists ought to be, Deborah G. Mayo's writings are a must. Her views on inference are all the more valuable for being contrary to much current consensus. Her latest book will delight many and infuriate others but force all who are serious about these issues to think. Her capacity to jolt the complacent is second to none.' Stephen Senn, author of Dicing with Death'Deborah G. Mayo's insights into the philosophical dimensions of these problems are unsurpassed in their originality, their importance, and the breadth of understanding on which they are based. Here she combines perspectives from philosophy of science and the foundations of statistics to eliminate mirages produced by misunderstandings both philosophical and statistical, while putting into focus the ways in which her error-statistical approach is relevant to current problems of scientific inquiry in various disciplines.' Kent Staley, Saint Louis University, Missouri'In this new book that reviews several competing paradigms for the philosophy of statistics in science, Deborah G. Mayo continues her project of untangling and delineating methods, models, assumptions, and goals, with an aim of moving toward pragmatic modes of inference that go beyond wishful thinking.' Andrew Gelman, Columbia University, New York'In this ground-breaking volume, Deborah G. Mayo cuts through the thicket of confusion surrounding debates on statistical inference, debunking the many widespread misconceptions about statistical tests and developing the theory of error statistics and severe testing. The book should be read by all practicing statisticians, and indeed by all scientists and others trying to extract meaning from data.' David J. Hand, Imperial College, London'This book is a detailed elaboration of the idea that statistical inferences are well-founded only if the possible ways in which they could be erroneous have been identified and responded to. The ramifications of this standpoint lead Mayo to solutions of long-standing problems in the philosophy of statistics, shows the way towards reforms in common but dubious statistical practices and helps the non-expert make informed judgements about such matters. This book is destined to become a definitive and frequently consulted resource.' Alan Chalmers, University of Sydney'The book by Deborah G. Mayo is a timely examination of the use of statistics in science. Her severity requirement demands that the scientist provide a sharp question and related data. Absent that, the observer should withhold judgement or outright reject. It is time to get tough. Funding agencies should take note.' S. Stanley Young, FASA, FAAAS'In this lively, witty, and intellectually engaging book, Deborah G. Mayo returns to first principles to make sense of statistics. She takes us beyond statistical formalism and recipes, and asks us to think philosophically about the enterprise of statistical inference itself. Her contribution will be a welcomed addition to statistical learning. Mayo's timely book will shrink enlarged posteriors and overinflated significance, by focusing on whether our inferences have been severely tested, which is where we should be focused.' Nathan A. Schachtman, Columbia Law'It deserves a wide audience among those interested in the philosophy of statistics and the testing of scientific hypotheses. I congratulate Mayo; her book is a must-read for anyone interested in the ongoing research on the philosophy of statistics.' Prasanta S. Bandyopadhyay, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews'… the book is insightful for those new to Mayo's philosophy of statistics and provides a thorough view of the statistics wars. For the concerned methodologist, it also demarcates severity tests from significance tests and power analyses, and provides an excellent … framework of methodological falsificationism for better science.' Jose D. Perezgonzalez, Marcos Pascual-Soler, Juan Pascual-Llobell and Dolores Frias-Navarro, Quantitative Psychology and Measurement'The title of the section is immediately refreshing … Bayesians are traditionally skeptical of a focus on performance, and Mayo offers us a peace offering if we are willing to take it: our suspicions of the performance viewpoint are indulged.' Richard D. Morey, Medium (www.medium.com)'SIST provides researchers and methodologists with a distinctive perspective on statistical inference. Mayo's Popper-inspired emphasis on strong tests is a welcome antidote to the widespread practice of weak hypothesis testing in psychological research.' Brian Haig, Statistical Modeling, Casual Interference and Social Science'I think that it is a very valuable addition to the literature on foundations of statistics …' Christian Hennig, Statistical Modeling, Casual Interference and Social ScienceTable of ContentsPreface; Excursion 1. How to Tell What's True about Statistical Inference: Tour I. Beyond probabilism and performance; Tour II. Error probing tools vs. logics of evidence; Excursion 2. Taboos of Induction and Falsification: Tour I. Induction and confirmation; Tour II. Falsification, pseudoscience, induction; Excursion 3. Statistical Tests and Scientific Inference: Tour I. Ingenious and severe tests; Tour II. It's the methods, stupid; Tour III. Capability and severity: deeper concepts; Excursion 4. Objectivity and Auditing: Tour I. The myth of 'the myth of objectivity'; Tour II. Rejection fallacies: whose exaggerating what?; Tour III. Auditing: biasing selection effects and randomization; Tour IV. More auditing: objectivity and model checking; Excursion 5. Power and Severity: Tour I. Power: pre-data and post-data; Tour II. How not to corrupt power; Tour III. Deconstructing the N-P vs. Fisher debates; Excursion 6. (Probabilist) Foundations Lost, (Probative) Foundations Found: Tour I. What ever happened to Bayesian foundations?; Tour II. Pragmatic and error statistical Bayesians; Souvenir (Z) farewell; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisCombining twenty-six original essays written by distinguished physicists and philosophers of physics, this anthology reflects the latest thoughts of leading experts on the influence of Bell's theorem, making it an invaluable volume for students and researchers interested in the philosophy of physics and in the foundations of quantum mechanics.Trade Review'This anthology brims with affection for John Stewart Bell and illustrates a fascination with his eponymous theorem on quantum nonlocality … Over two-dozen authors have contributed chapters to this book, providing a wide scope of ideas about the fundamental physics of the theorem, and competing interpretations of its meaning and implications.' K. D. Fisher, Choice'Even though the book's four parts cover different topics, there is … no strict division of the papers. For example, recollections of Bell are not only in Part I … Many of the other papers contain recollections as well. … In addition, discussions on the nature of non-locality often go together with consideration of precise versions of quantum mechanics. … this is overall a very nice anthology, with high-level contributions. They cover a broad range of topics related to Bell's work … ranging from topics on locality to the structure of physical theories. The recollections provide good insight into Bell as a person. … The summaries of the contributions in the preface are well done. The contributors are a well-balanced mix of both physicists and philosophers. I warmly recommend this book to anyone interested in this important and fascinating aspect of the quantum world.' Ward Struyve, Notre Dame Philosophical ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface; Part I. John Stewart Bell: The Physicist: 1. John Bell: the Irish connection Andrew Whitaker; 2. Recollections of John Bell Michael Nauenberg; 3. John Bell: recollections of a great scientist and a great man Gian-Carlo Ghirardi; Part II. Bell's Theorem: 4. What did Bell really prove? Jean Bricmont; 5. The assumptions of Bell's proof Roderich Tumulka; 6. Bell on Bell's theorem: the changing face of nonlocality Harvey R. Brown and Christopher G. Timpson; 7. Experimental tests of Bell inequalities Marco Genovese; 8. Bell's theorem without inequalities: on the inception and scope of the GHZ theorem Olival Freire, Jr and Osvaldo Pessoa, Jr; 9. Strengthening Bell's theorem: removing the hidden-variable assumption Henry P. Stapp; Part III. Nonlocality: Illusions or Reality?: 10. Is any theory compatible with the quantum predictions necessarily nonlocal? Bernard d'Espagnat; 11. Local causality, probability and explanation Richard A. Healey; 12. Bell inequality and many-worlds interpretation Lev Vaidman; 13. Quantum solipsism and non-locality Travis Norsen; 14. Lessons of Bell's theorem: nonlocality, yes; action at a distance, not necessarily Wayne C. Myrvold; 15. Bell non-locality, Hardy's paradox and hyperplane dependence Gordon N. Fleming; 16. Some thoughts on quantum nonlocality and its apparent incompatibility with relativity Shan Gao; 17. A reasonable thing that just might work Daniel Rohrlich; 18. Weak values and quantum nonlocality Yakir Aharonov and Eliahu Cohen; Part IV. Nonlocal Realistic Theories: 19. Local beables and the foundations of physics Tim Maudlin; 20. John Bell's varying interpretations of quantum mechanics: memories and comments H. Dieter Zeh; 21. Some personal reflections on quantum non-locality and the contributions of John Bell Basil J. Hiley; 22. Bell on Bohm Sheldon Goldstein; 23. Interactions and inequality Philip Pearle; 24. Gravitation and the noise needed in objective reduction models Stephen L. Adler; 25. Towards an objective physics of Bell non-locality: palatial twistor theory Roger Penrose; 26. Measurement and macroscopicity: overcoming conceptual imprecision in quantum measurement theory Gregg Jaeger; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book combines recent developments in social ontology with classic ideas from the philosophy of technology. Individual chapters also contribute to a range of issues from the history, sociology, psychology and economics of technology. The overall aim of the book, however, is to propose a new ontology of technology that will be of interest throughout the humanities and social sciences.Trade Review'This calm and gracious book provides us with a turning point in our understanding of the philosophy of technology and the culture of technology. It returns us to the great moral tasks of philosophy by calling our attention to the living and breathing texture of society.' Albert Borgmann, author of Real American Ethics'A remarkable book. It covers a wide range of topics related to technology with skill and clarity. It will appeal to many readers, including those interested in the philosophy of technology and science and technology studies.' Andrew Feenberg, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia'A thorough survey of contemporary social ontology and philosophy of technology. Even if you are a newcomer to these fields, you will soon find yourself in command of a wide range of material thanks to Lawson's erudition and clarity.' Graham Harman, author of Immaterialism: Objects and Social Theory'Lawson makes very skilful use of social ontology in order to approach classic issues in the philosophy of technology from a sociological perspective. A stimulating and provocative analysis for any philosopher of technology interested in the social dimension of technology.' Peter Kroes, Technische Universiteit Delft, The Netherlands'Thought-provoking, well-argued and highly readable. Lawson makes a solid case for social ontologists and theorists of technology to take each other more seriously, sets out a persuasive 'ontology of technology' of his own and applies this perspective to reveal insights across a broad range of pivotal contemporary issues. It raises a set of questions and issues that merit considerable thought after one puts it down. It is a book that deserves to be widely read.' David Tyfield, Lancaster University'The need to understand our relationship with technology is becoming ever more salient in our networked high-speed society. Lawson's fascinating book provides a fresh lens on this subject, showing that we can only grasp the specificity of technology through a philosophy of technology based on social ontology.' Judy Wajcman, London School of Economics and Political Science'Lawson brilliantly arranges a current, concise and comprehensive survey of a range of different technology debates organized around his central theme of the ontology of isolation. The chapter on autism is exceptionally instructive and provocative.' Hugh Willmott, Cardiff University'Clive Lawson's book Technology and Isolation provides a timely and innovative study of the influence of technology on society. Lawson brings a sense of perspective and clarity, based on wide-ranging reading of the many ways that technology has been considered. He does so from a philosophical point of view. Whilst many contemporary economists might be sceptical of such an approach, it is valuable in so far as it asks important fundamental questions that tend to be omitted because of the way economists are now socialised to think and research. Technology and Isolation rewards careful reading and deserves to become a standard point of reference.' Nuno Ornelas Martins, Real-World Economics ReviewTable of Contents1. Technology questions; 2. Technology - from obscurity to keyword; 3. Ontology and isolation; 4. Science and technology; 5. The sociality of artefacts; 6. Technological artefacts; 7. Technology and the extension of human capabilities; 8. Technology and instrumentalisation; 9. Technology and autism; 10. Technology, recombination and speed; 11. Marx, Heidegger and technological neutrality.

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Book SynopsisIn the early twentieth century, Ernst Mach, William James, and Bertrand Russell founded a philosophical and scientific movement known as 'neutral monism', based on the view that minds and physical objects are constructed out of elements or events which are neither mental nor physical, but neutral between the two. This movement offers a unified scientific outlook which includes sensations in human experience and events in the world of physics under one roof. In this book Erik C. Banks discusses this important movement as a whole for the first time. He explores the ways in which the three philosophers can be connected, and applies their ideas to contemporary problems in the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of science - in particular the relation of sensations to brain processes, and the problem of constructing extended bodies in space and time from particular events and causal relations.Table of ContentsIntroduction. An overview of realistic empiricism; 1. Mach: physical elements; 2. Mach: philosophy of psychology; 3. William James' direct realism: a reconstruction; 4. Russell's neutral monism: 1919–27; 5. Enhanced physicalism; 6. The problem of extension: a constructivist program; Appendix. An outline of realistic empiricism.

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Book SynopsisWhen The Concept of Nature by Alfred North Whitehead was first published in 1920 it was declared to be one of the most important works on the relation between philosophy and science for many years, and several generations later it continues to deserve careful attention. Whitehead explores the fundamental problems of substance, space and time, and offers a criticism of Einstein's method of interpreting results while developing his own well-known theory of the four-dimensional 'space-time manifold'. With a specially commissioned new preface written by Michael Hampe, this book is presented in a fresh series livery for the twenty-first century for a new generation of readers.Table of ContentsPreface to this edition Michael Hampe; Preface; 1. Nature and thought; 2. Theories of the bifurcation of nature; 3. Time; 4. The method of extensive abstraction; 5. Space and motion; 6. Congruence; 7. Objects; 8. Summary; 9. The ultimate physical concepts; Notes; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book examines Aristotle's use of the theory of natural teleology in producing explanations of natural phenomena. It will be valuable for all who are interested in Aristotle's natural science, his philosophy of science, and his biology.Trade Review"....the account of the syllogistic structure of teleological explanations presented in the sixth chapter is one to be reckoned with. The preceding chapters can be recommended unconditionally. They offer a clear and wonderfully helpful schematic presentation of the explanatory and methodological structure of the various teleological explanations offered in the physical treatises; future readers of these treatises would be well advised to make ample use of them." --Owen Goldin, Marquette University, Bryn Mawr Classical Review"....a rich account of how Aristotle thinks teleological causation operates in nature and how final causes are to be integrated into a more comprehensive picture of explanation in natural science. Explanation and Teleology in Aristotle's Science of Nature is an important contribution to scholarship on Aristotle's teleology.... her book has added significantly to the debate and must be engaged with by anyone wishing to tackle the subject from this point forward.... this book will be of interest to a much broader audience. While the reader is assumed to have some familiarity with Aristotle's philosophy of nature, Leunissen's discussion is quite accessible. Most technical concepts are explained and illustrated with examples, and she offers an abundance of textual evidence in support of her claims.... there is certainly no shortage of philosophically engaging ideas in her book." --Devin Henry, University of Western Ontario, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"... this book provides an important contribution to the studies of Aristotle's science of nature and present a set of ideas in a very clear manner. This will be the point book for all research on the teleology in Aristotle's science of nature." --Andrea Falcon, University of Concordia, Montreal, PhoenixTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; List of tables and figures; Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Aristotle's defense of natural teleology: setting the stage for teleological explanations in the Physica; 2. Aristotle's bio-functional account of the soul: establishing the starting points of teleological explanation in the De Anima; 3. Introducing biology as a demonstrative science: the theory of teleological explanation in the De Partibus Animalium I; 4. Explaining parts of animals: the practice of teleological explanation in the De Partibus Animalium II-IV; 5. Making sense of the heavens: the limits of teleological explanation in the De Caelo; 6. Aristotle's model of science: formalizing teleological explanations in the Analytica Posteriora; 7. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index of texts; Index of names and subjects.

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Book SynopsisThis book proposes an alternative theory of evolution as organism-centred, prioritising organisms as adaptive agents and challenging the Modern Synthesis theory of evolution which prioritises genes over organisms. It is of interest to scholars and upper-level students of evolutionary biology and the philosophy of biology.Trade Review'Walsh provides a concise and well-informed account of [20th-century] modern evolutionary thinking and its shortcomings, as well as argue[s] for a more ecologically-focused theory. Organisms, Agency, and Evolution is a salient addition to the fundamental understanding of evolutionary biology. This book is highly recommended to undergraduate and graduate students of evolutionary biology. It may also serve as a reference guide for advanced researchers and educators.' Termara Parker, Yale Journal of Biology and MedicineTable of ContentsIntroducing organisms: between unificationism and exceptionalism; Part I. The Eclipse of The Organism: 1. Mechanism, reduction and emergence: of molecules and method; 2. Ensemble thinking: struggle and abstraction; 3. The fractionation of evolution: struggling or replicating?; Part II. Beyond Replicator Biology: 4. Inheritance: transmission or resemblance?; 5. Units of phenotypic control: parity or privilege?; 6. Fit and diversity: from competition to complementarity; 7. Integrating development: three grades of ontogenetic commitment; Part III. Situated Darwinism: 8. Adaptation: environments and affordances; 9. Natural purposes: mechanism and teleology; 10. Object and agent: enacting evolution; 11. Two neo-Darwinisms: fractionated or situated?; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisProvides a defence of Kuhn's theory of scientific knowledge, arguing that it is an evolutionary social epistemology; revisits concepts from The Structure of Scientific Revolutions and examines new directions in Kuhn's view, including his emphasis on specialization. Wray also examines Kuhn's view of social constructionism and the sociology of science.Trade Review'K. Brad Wray admirably succeeds in explaining in a coherent way Thomas Kuhn's view of scientific development. He shows us how a sympathetic dispute with the sociology of science paves the way for a social epistemology that deserves its name. He also shows us clearly how a theory of scientific development that features revolutions is nevertheless evolutionary. A splendid book!' Professor Dr Paul Hoyningen-Huene, Leibniz Universität Hannover'Wray's monograph fills an important gap in the literature on Kuhn by clarifying and defending Kuhn's epistemology of science as it was developed in his later work, and by showing how it relates to recent work in sociology of science and science studies. Wray offers many important insights drawn from his re-examination of Kuhn's social epistemology while at the same time pointing to new areas of research that philosophers need to pursue.' Hanne Andersen, Aarhus University, Denmark'Excellent book … a rich and stimulating guide, one that caused me to rethink my own take on Kuhn and the issues that his work has raised for us. Both science studies professionals and more general readers will find much of value here.' Metascience'… a constructive and insightful framework for developing an epistemology of science … Well written, clear, and carefully argued, Kuhn's Evolutionary Social Epistemology will be most useful and insightful …' Stefano Gattei, Isis'… of interest to philosophers, sociologists, scientists, historians of science, and scholars working in science studies … Wray has the ability to write in a clear and accessible way … could be used as a textbook on Kuhn's epistemology of science … a splendid book … I am convinced it will inspire many scholars and students in years to come.' Barbara G. Benzi, International Studies in the Philosophy of Science'… highly recommended … The book provides concrete points of cooperative and collaborative studies of the science of sociological and philosophical perspective …' Markus Seidel, Rezensionen: Zeitschrift für Theoretische SoziologieTable of ContentsList of figures and table; Acknowledgements; Introduction: Kuhn's insight; Part I. Revolutions, Paradigms, and Incommensurability: 1. Scientific revolutions as lexical changes; 2. The Copernican revolution revisited; 3. Kuhn and the discovery of paradigms; 4. The epistemic significance of incommensurability; Part II. Kuhn's Evolutionary Epistemology: 5. Kuhn's historical perspective; 6. Truth and the end of scientific inquiry; 7. Scientific specialization; 8. Taking stock of the evolutionary dimensions of Kuhn's epistemology; Part III. Kuhn's Social Epistemology: 9. Kuhn's constructionism; 10. What makes Kuhn's epistemology a social epistemology?; 11. How does a new theory come to be accepted?; 12. Where the road has taken us: a synthesis; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisFirst published as part of the Cambridge Miscellany series in 1934, this book presents the content of two lectures delivered by Alfred North Whitehead at the University of Chicago in October 1933. The volume concerns itself chiefly with the complex relationship between nature, philosophy and science.Table of ContentsLecture I; Lecture II.

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Book SynopsisQuantum mechanics impacts on many areas of physics from pure theory to applications. However it is difficult to interpret, and philosophical contradictions and counter-intuitive results are apparent at a fundamental level. This book presents current understanding of the theory, providing a historical introduction and discussing many of its interpretations. Fully revised from the first edition, this book contains state-of-the-art research including loophole-free experimental Bell test, and theorems on the reality of the wave function including the PBR theorem, and a new section on quantum simulation. More interpretations are now included, and these are described and compared, including discussion of their successes and difficulties. Other sections have been expanded, including quantum error correction codes and the reference section. It is ideal for researchers in physics and maths, and philosophers of science interested in quantum physics and its foundations.Trade Review'The book attempts to provide a balanced view of the conceptual difficulties of quantum theory.' K.-E. Hellwig, zbMATHTable of ContentsForeword; Preface; 1. Historical perspective; 2. Present situation, remaining conceptual difficulties; 3. The theorem of Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen; 4. Bell theorem; 5. Other inequalities, Cirelson's limit, signaling; 6. More theorems; 7. Quantum entanglement; 8. Applications of quantum entanglement; 9. Quantum measurement; 10. Experiments: quantum reduction seen in real time; 11. Various interpretations and reconstructions of quantum mechanics; 12. Conclusion; 13. Annex: basic mathematical tools of quantum mechanics; Appendix A. Mental content of the state vector; Appendix B. Bell inequalities in non-deterministic local theories; Appendix C. Attempting to construct a 'separable' quantum theory; Appendix D. Maximal probability for a state; Appendix E. The influence of pair selection; Appendix F. Impossibility of superluminal communication; Appendix G. Quantum measurements at different times; Appendix H. Manipulating and preparing additional variables; Appendix I. Correlations and trajectories in Bohmian theory; Appendix J. Models for spontaneous reduction of the state vector; Appendix K. Consistent families of histories; Appendix L. Attractive Schrödinger dynamics; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisWhat is the basis of scientific claims? How much confidence should we put in them? What is defined as science and what is not? This timely synthesis conveys the strengths, weaknesses and reality of science to inform the general reader and help professional scientists articulate what they do and why.Trade Review'We live in a world where the discoveries of well-done science are rapidly improving the lives of millions; but at the same time poorly done inquiry that fails to meet the foundational principles of science, even when carried out with all good intentions, can result in harmful false conclusions resulting in wasting of resources, bad results for individuals and bad public policy for nations. Dr Zimring has produced a marvelously cogent and eminently readable book that explains how to recognize good science and know when to question poor 'scientific' conclusions. Reading this book places scientists and non-scientists on the same playing field when discussing critical issues and making important decisions. I would feel much better going to the polls if every voter understood the lessons that Zimring effortlessly communicates.' Brian R. Smith, Yale University, Connecticut'The message of this extraordinary book is loud and clear: we need a better understanding of science. That it is written by a scientist - and aimed in part at a scientific audience - makes the message all the more credible … and urgent. Science may not be perfect, but it is the best hope we've got. Zimring has written an engaging and accessible book on the importance of digging beneath what we think we know about science.' Lee McIntyre, Boston University and author of The Scientific Attitude: Defending Science from Denial, Fraud, and Pseudoscience'In his recent book, What Science Is and How It Really Works, University of Virginia Professor of Pathology James C. Zimring, aspired to answer those vital questions. He correctly recognizes that the process of science is woefully misunderstood by the general public and even by many scientists. Anchored with a keen grasp of philosophy, logic, and reason, Zimring attempted to resolve a variety of misconstructions.' Ross Pomeroy, RealClearScience (https://www.realclearscience.com)'[Zimmering] asks important questions, such as: What are scientific 'facts'? How does science differ from non-science? And, how is a layperson to judge a claim that asserts it is 'scientific'? The special imprimatur given to the findings of science (the so-called Legend of Science) requires us to be able to evaluate its claims rationally and dispassionately, from the benefits of vaccines to the threats of climate change. The book's three parts are devoted, respectively, to scientific reasoning and logic; flaws that undermine natural human observation; and how scientific processes and methods seek to addresses those flaws. The author's goal is to assist nonscientists in assessing scientific claims while-perhaps more importantly-enabling scientists to defend science (by deconstructing the Legend).' N. Sadanand, Choice'I certainly wish I had read a book like Zimring's when I started my graduate studies; this would have helped me avoid many of the mistakes I made … I recommend Zimring's book for students who contemplate a career in science … Zimring says that science very much needs its fringe thinkers, although it often treats them badly. In conclusion, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, science is the worst way to understand the world except for all the other ways. What Science Is and How It Really Works gives lots of examples of how the scientific method has allowed the big brains of unpromising apes to understand the world better than we had any right to expect.' Stanley A. Rice, The American Journal of PsychologyTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I: 1. The knowledge problem, or what can we really 'know'?; 2. Adding more building blocks of human reasoning to the knowledge problem; 3. Holistic coherence in thinking, or describing a system of how humans reason and think; Part II: 4. How scientific reasoning differs from other reasoning; 5. Natural properties of a rule-governed world, or why scientists study certain types of things and not others; 6. How human observation of the natural world can differ from what the world really is; 7. Detection of patterns and associations, or how human perceptions and reasoning complicate understanding of real-world information; 8. The association of ideas and causes, or how science figures out what causes what; Part III: 9. Remedies that science uses to compensate for how humans tend to make errors; 10. The analysis of a phantom apparition, or has science really been studied yet?; 11. The societal factor, or how social dynamics affect science; 12. A holistic world of scientific entities, or considering the forest and the trees together; 13. Putting it all together to describe 'what science is and how it really works'.

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Book SynopsisAn agent often does not have precise probabilities or utilities to guide resolution of a decision problem. I advance a principle of rationality for making decisions in such cases. To begin, I represent the doxastic and conative state of an agent with a set of pairs of a probability assignment and a utility assignment. Then I support a decision principle that allows any act that maximizes expected utility according to some pair of assignments in the set. Assuming that computation of an option''s expected utility uses comprehensive possible outcomes that include the option''s risk, no consideration supports a stricter requirement.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Imprecision; 3. Rational imprecision; 4. Probabilism; 5. The expected-utility principle; 6. Norms for imprecise attitudes; 7. The permissive principle of choice; 8. Sequences of choices; 9. Choices in games of strategy; 10. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisIntroduces a wide range of scientific and philosophical issues about life for an interdisciplinary audience of scientists and philosophers. It traces the historical background of contemporary philosophical and scientific thought through original sources considering the origin, extent and definition of life as well as the creation of artificial life.Trade Review'Editing a book of this kind always entails a risk because the particular professional interests and idiosyncrasies of the editors will affect the choice of contributions. However, I believe that the multifarious and matching interests of the editors were instrumental in producing an up-to-date and complete collection that will help the student of biology and philosophy alike. The editors did an outstanding job at devising an anthology that will be useful as a teaching instrument in a variety of classes in a variety of different disciplines. A marvellous book.' Metapsychology Online ReviewsTable of ContentsPreface; Acknowledgments; Sources; About the authors; Introduction; Part I. Classical Discussions of Life: 1. De Anima (selections) Aristotle; 2. Treatise on Man René Descartes; 3. Critique of the Teleological Power of Judgment (selections) Immanuel Kant; 4. What is Life? (selections) Erwin Schrödinger; 5. The nature of life Alexander Oparin; 6. What is the meaning of 'life'? Ernst Mayr; 7. The Principles of Life (selections) Tibor Gánti; Part II. The Origin and Extent of Natural Life: 8. The origin of life: a review of facts and speculation Leslie E. Orgel; 9. Small molecule interactions were central to the origin of life Robert Shapiro; 10. Are the different hypotheses on the emergence of life as different as they seem? Iris Fry; 11. The universal nature of biochemistry Norman Pace; 12. Is there a common chemical model for life in the universe? Steven A. Benner, Alonso Ricardo and Matthew A. Carrigan; 13. Searching for life in the universe: lessons from Earth Kenneth H. Nealson; 14. The possibility of alternative microbial life on Earth Carol E. Cleland and Shelley D. Copley; 15. Introduction to the limits of organic life in planetary systems National Research Council of the National Academies; Part III. Artificial Life and Synthetic Biology: 16. Learning from functionalism: prospects for strong artificial life Elliott Sober; 17. Life, 'artificial life', and scientific explanation Marc Lange; 18. Alien life: how would we know? Margaret A. Boden; 19. Automatic design and manufacture of robotic life forms Hod Lipson and Jordan P. Pollack; 20. A giant step towards artificial life? David Deamer; 21. Approaches to semi-synthetic minimal cells: a review Pier Luigi Luisi, Francesca Ferri and Pasquale Stano; 22. Creating 'real life' Evelyn Fox Keller; Part IV. Defining and Explaining Life: 23. Definitions of life Carl Sagan; 24. The seven pillars of life Daniel E. Koshland; 25. A universal definition of life: autonomy and open-ended evolution Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo, Juli Pereto and Alvaro Moreno; 26. Does 'life' have a definition? Carol Cleland and Christopher Chyba; 27. Sentient symphony Lynn Margulis and Dorion Sagan; 28. Defining life Kim Sterelny and Paul Griffiths; 29. Universal Darwinism Richard Dawkins; 30. What is life? Was Schrödinger right? Stuart A. Kauffman; 31. Four puzzles about life Mark A. Bedau; Supplemental bibliography on life; Index.

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Book SynopsisRecent arguments concerning the nature of causation in evolutionary theory, now often known as the debate between the ''causalist'' and ''statisticalist'' positions, have involved answers to a variety of independent questions definitions of key evolutionary concepts like natural selection, fitness, and genetic drift; causation in multi-level systems; or the nature of evolutionary explanations, among others. This Element offers a way to disentangle one set of these questions surrounding the causal structure of natural selection. Doing so allows us to clearly reconstruct the approach that some of these major competing interpretations of evolutionary theory have to this causal structure, highlighting particular features of philosophical interest within each. Further, those features concern problems not exclusive to the philosophy of biology. Connections between them and, in two case studies, contemporary metaphysics and philosophy of physics demonstrate the potential value of broader collaboration in the understanding of evolution.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The Contemporary Debate over Causation in Natural Selection; 2. Diagramming Evolving Systems; 3. New Perspectives on Causalism; 4. Moving the Debate Forward: Two Proposals; 5. Conclusion; References.

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Book SynopsisIs mathematics ''entangled'' with its various formalisations? Or arethe central conceptsof mathematics largely insensitivetoformalisation, or ''formalism free''? What is the semantic point of view and how is it implemented in foundational practice? Does a given semantic framework always have an implicit syntax? Inspired bywhat she calls the ''natural language moves'' of Gödeland Tarski, Juliette Kennedy considers what rolesthe concepts of ''entanglement'' and ''formalism freeness'' play in a range oflogical settings, from computability and set theory to model theory and second order logic, to logicality, developing an entirely original philosophy of mathematics along the way. Thetreatment is historically, logically and set-theoretically rich, andtopics such as naturalism and foundations receive their due, but now with a new twist.Trade Review'Kennedy creatively embeds Gödel's ideal of 'formalism freeness' into myriad results in contemporary logic and foundations of mathematics, offering novel historical reconstructions of Tarski and Turing. A cutting-edge work of philosophy that synthesizes, while going beyond, our current ideas about foundations.' Juliet Floyd, Boston UniversityTable of Contents1. Introduction; 1.1 The Syntax/Semantics Distinction; 1.2 Our Logical Pluralism; 1.3 Formal vs Linguistic Semantics; 2. Formalism Freeness and Entanglement: Definitions; 2.1 Precedents; 2.2 Entanglement and Formalism Freeness: Varieties; 2.3 A Simple Preference for Semantic Methods?; 3. Computability: the Primary Example; 3.1 On Adequacy; 3.2 Different Notions of Computability Emerge in the 1930s; 3.3 The 'Scope Problem'; 3.4 Turing's Analysis of Computability; 3.5 Gödel's Reaction to Turing's Work at the Time; 3.6 Coda: a Word About Deviant Encodings; 4. Gödel and Formalism Independence; 4.1 Gödel on Formalism; 4.2 Episodes of Formalism Independence in Gödel's Writings; 4.3 Gödel's Princeton Bicentennial Lecture; 4.4 Implementation; 4.5 Logical Autonomy?; 5. Tarski and 'the Mathematical'; 5.1 'The Mathematical', Definable Sets of Reals, and Naïve Set Theory; 5.2 Tarski's Naturalism; 5.3 Squeezing First Order Definability; 5.4 Tarski and Logicality; 5.5 In Sum: Parataxis; 5.6 Coda: an Improvement of McGee's Theorem; 6. Model Theoretic Aspects; 6.1 Abstract Elementary Classes; 6.2 Patchwork Foundations, On-Again-Off-Again-Sim and Implicit Syntax; 6.3 Implicit Syntax, Implicit Logic; 6.4 A Remark on Set Theory; 6.5 Symbiosis; 6.6 Coda: Symbiosis in Detail; 7. On the Side of Natural Language.

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Book SynopsisParaconsistent logic makes it possible to study inconsistent theories in a coherent way. From its modern start in the mid-20th century, paraconsistency was intended for use in mathematics, providing a rigorous framework for describing abstract objects and structures where some contradictions are allowed, without collapse into incoherence. Over the past decades, this initiative has evolved into an area of non-classical mathematics known as inconsistent or paraconsistent mathematics. This Element provides a selective introductory survey of this research program, distinguishing between `moderate'' and `radical'' approaches. The emphasis is on philosophical issues and future challenges.Table of Contents1. Invitation to Paraconsistency in Mathematics: Why and How?; 2. Set Theory; 3. Arithmetic; 4. Calculus, Topology, and Geometry; 5. Whither Paraconsistency in Mathematics?

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Book SynopsisIn this influential study of central issues in the philosophy of science, Paul Horwich elaborates on an important conception of probability, diagnosing the failure of previous attempts to resolve these issues as stemming from a too-rigid conception of belief. Adopting a Bayesian strategy, he argues for a probabilistic approach, yielding a more complete understanding of the characteristics of scientific reasoning and methodology. Presented in a fresh twenty-first-century series livery, and including a specially commissioned preface written by Colin Howson, illuminating its enduring importance and relevance to philosophical enquiry, this engaging work has been revived for a new generation of readers.Trade Review'… the strongest and most influential parts of Probability and Evidence are Horwich's solutions to various puzzles about scientific reasoning … the book might very well still be of considerable interest to those who are looking for an engaging and readable introduction to the topic of scientific reasoning from a Bayesian perspective.' Finnur Dellsén, MetascienceTable of ContentsPreface to this edition Colin Howson; Part I. Methodology: 1. Introduction; 2. Aspects of the scientific method; 3. A taste of Bayesianism; Part II. Probability: 4. The primitive theory; 5. Subjectivism; 6. The rationalist interpretation; 7. The logical interpretation; 8. The evidential state; 9. The empirical interpretation; Part III. Confirmation: 10. Explications; 11. The paradox; 12. A Bayesian pseudo-solution to the problem of induction; 13. Projection; Part IV. Induction: Section 1. The Nature of Inductive Inference; Section 2. Conditions of Rationality: 14. Demonstrable reliability; 15. The demonstrable reliability of c+; 16. Immodesty; 17. Audacity; Section 3. The Justification of Induction: 18. The impossibility of a noncircular rationale; 19. Inductive demonstration of reliability; 20. Semantic justification; Part V. Prediction: 21. Surprise; 22. Severe tests; 23. Ad hoc hypothesis; 24. Prediction versus accommodation; Part VI. Evidence: 25. The evidential value of varied data; 26. The value of further data; Part VII. Realism: 27. Popper; 28. Realism versus instrumentalism; 29. Putnam; 30. Glymour; 31. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1985, D. M. Armstrong''s original work on what laws of nature are has continued to be influential in the areas of metaphysics and philosophy of science. Presenting a definitive attack on the sceptical Humean view, that laws are no more than a regularity of coincidence between stances of properties, Armstrong establishes his own theory and defends it concisely and systematically against objections. Presented in a fresh twenty-first-century series livery, and including a specially commissioned preface written by Marc Lange, illuminating its continuing importance and relevance to philosophical enquiry, this influential work is available for a new generation of readers.Table of ContentsPreface to this edition Marc Lange; Acknowledgements; Part I. A Critique of the Regularity Theory: 1. Introductory; 2. Critique of the regularity theory (1): the problem of accidental uniformities; 3. Critique of the regularity theory (2); 4. Critique of the regularity theory (3); 5. Can the regularity theory be sophisticated?; Part II. Laws of Nature as Relations between Universals: 6. Laws of nature as relations between universals; 7. Functional laws; 8. Unsubstantiated laws; 9. Probabilistic laws; 10. Further considerations concerning the form of laws; 11. Are the laws of nature necessary or contingent?; Conclusions; Index.

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Book SynopsisRanging from the early Royal Society of London in the seventeenth century to the uptake of experimental philosophy in Paris and Berlin in the eighteenth, this book is the first integrated history of early modern experimental philosophy, one of the most significant developments of the period.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Tables and Figures; Abbreviations; Note on Citations; Introduction; 1. The Rise of Experimental Philosophy; 2. The Heyday of Experimental Philosophy; 3. From Experimental Philosophy to Empiricism; Conclusion; List of Manuscripts; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first systematic exploration of the intriguing connections between Victorian physical sciences and the study of the controversial phenomena broadly classified as psychic, occult and paranormal. These phenomena included animal magnetism, spirit-rapping, telekinesis and telepathy. Richard Noakes shows that psychic phenomena interested far more Victorian scientists than we have previously assumed, challenging the view of these scientists as individuals clinging rigidly to a materialistic worldview. Physicists, chemists and other physical scientists studied psychic phenomena for a host of scientific, philosophical, religious and emotional reasons, and many saw such investigations as exciting new extensions to their theoretical and experimental researches. While these attempted extensions were largely unsuccessful, they laid the foundations of modern day explorations of the connections between physics and psychic phenomena. This revelatory study challenges our view of the historTrade Review'Physics and Psychics is a much-anticipated contribution to scholarship by the preeminent historian of science studying the interaction of science and occultism in this period. Noakes's masterful book, focused on the years 1870–1930, will be essential for scholars of modernism in art, literature, and culture more generally.' Linda Dalrymple Henderson, University of Texas, Austin'Richard Noakes knows more than anyone else in the world about the complex ways physics and psychical research interacted in the decades around 1900, and in this incisive book he shows us just how permeable the boundary between science and the seemingly supernatural was in those days - and perhaps still is.' Bruce J. Hunt, University of Texas, Austin'Richard Noakes's ground-breaking book casts important new light on the place of physics in Victorian spiritualism, and the place of spiritualism in Victorian physics. This detailed and compelling study shows just how important the psychic world was in the development of the physical sciences at the end of the nineteenth century.' Iwan Rhys Morus, Aberystwyth University'This book provides new and fascinating insights into the historical links between physics and psychical research. It shows that the interest of eminent physicists in the subject was initially surprisingly widespread and that this was important in gaining it scientific recognition. Recent developments in physics have rekindled an interest in the link with psychical research, which makes this work particularly timely.' Bernard Carr, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, and former President of the Society for Psychical Research'The book includes a wealth of footnotes and other apparatus, and instructive illustrations.' M. Dickinson, Choice'Noakes's humane account reminds us that both enterprises have included rational, productive, and creative scientists whose ambitions, however vaunted, deserve respect and understanding.' Lucy Rhymer, Science in History'… a wonderful, rich, and detailed book.' Ruth Heholt, Victorian StudiesTable of ContentsList of figures and tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. New imponderables, new sciences; 1.1 Animal magnetism as physics; 1.2 The oddity of od; 1.3 Outdoing the electric telegraph; 1.4 'Scientific men' and spiritualism; 1.5 Extending the boundaries of physics; 2. A survey of physical-psychical scientists; 2.1 Inventing psychical research; 2.2 Identifying physical-psychical scientists; 2.3 Connecting physical-psychical scientists; 2.4 Gold mines of science, handmaids to faith; 2.5 Changing attitudes to psychical investigation; 3. Psychical effects and physical theories; 3.1 Removing scientific 'stumbling blocks'; 3.2 Challenging materiality; 3.3 Dim analogies; 3.4 Maxwellian psychics; 3.5 Doubts and criticisms; 4. Psychical investigation as experimental physics; 4.1 From psychic force to the radiometer; 4.2 Tying mediums with electricity; 4.3 Magnetic sense or nonsense?; 4.4 Physical as psychical laboratories; 4.5 Wanting opportunities?; 5. Expertise in physics and psychics; 5.1 Scourging spiritualists and scientists; 5.2 Tricky instruments of psychics; 5.3 Tricky instruments of physics; 5.4 Psychical researchers and conjurors; 5.5 N-rays and psychical expertise; 6. Modernising physics and psychics; 6.1 Busy men; 6.2 'Applied' psychical research; 6.3 Lodge's etherial body; 6.4 Interpreting Lodge's physics and psychics; 6.5 Interwar transitions; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisA book for students and researchers interested in what philosophy of science can contribute to our understanding of climate science and its role in shaping climate policy debates. It is suitable for anyone looking for a comprehensive introduction, as well as an original contribution, to the philosophy of climate science.Trade Review'… Philosophy and Climate Science serves as a well-rounded … For those with some background in philosophy of science, however, the book should be a welcome invitation to engage with the fast-growing, sophisticated and eminently relevant field of philosophy of climate science.' Axel Gelfert, Journal for General Philosophy of Science'… this is a book that many will find extremely valuable.' Dale Jamieson, The Quarterly Review of BiologyTable of ContentsPreface; List of figures; List of tables; List of boxes; 1. Introduction; 2. Data; 3. Models; 4. Simulations; 5. Chaos; 6. Probability; 7. Confidence; 8. Decision; 9. Values; 10. Skill; 11. Robustness; 12. Diversity; 13. Social epistemology; 14. Epilogue; Appendix: structural stability and the 'Hawkmoth Effect'; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisLeading thinkers from a range of disciplines discuss the compatibility of power and care, in conversation with the Dalai Lama.For more than thirty years, the Dalai Lama has been in dialogue with thinkers from a range of disciplines, helping to support pathways for knowledge to increase human wellbeing and compassion. These conversations, which began as private meetings, are now part of the Mind & Life Institute and Mind & Life Europe. This book documents a recent Mind & Life Institute dialogue with the Dalai Lama and others on two fundamental forces: power and care—power over and care for others in human societies.The notion of power is essentially neutral; power can be used to benefit others or to harm them, to build or to destroy. Care, on the other hand, is not a neutral force; it aims at increasing the wellbeing of others. Power and care are not incompatible: power, imbued with care, can achieve more than a powerless motivation to care; power, without the int

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