Limits of Science

by Nicholas Rescher

Perfected science, according to Nicholas Rescher, is "not a realizable condition of things but an idealization that provides a useful contrast conception to highlight the limited character of what we do and can attain." Rescher's discussion focuses on the theoretical limits of science - concentrating on what science can discover, not what it should discover. He explores in detail the existence of limits or limitations on scientific inquiry, especially those that, in principle, preclude the full realization of the aims of science, as opposed to those that relate economic obstacles to scientific progress.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

260 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1984