An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science by Anthony O'Hear (30-Mar-1989) Paperback

by Anthony O'Hear

This book is a balanced and up-to-date introduction to the philosophy of science. It covers all the main topics in the area, as well as introducing the student to the moral and social reality of science. The author's style is free from jargon, and although he makes use of scientific examples, these should be intelligible to those without much scientific background. At the same time the questions he raises are not merely abstract, so the book will be of interest and concern to scientists as well as philosophers. The author discusses the growth of knowledge of science, the status of scientific theories and their relationship to observational data, the extent to which scientific theories rest on unprovable paradigms, and the nature of scientific explanations. In later chapters he considers probability, scientific reductionism, the relationship between science and technology, and the relationship between scientific and other values.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published May 4, 1989

Reviews

[John Reis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very even-handed informative treatment of the philosophy of science. It is also a defense of science, yet a skeptical glance at reductionism, especially on the subject of consciousness.

[Mrtfalls · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intersting and quite accessible book that has definitely got me interested in the phlosophy of science, a branch of philosophy that is very growing in popularity, however it is worth taking your time reading it.