E-Book Overview
While philosophy of science has always been an integral part of philosophy, since the beginning of the twentieth century it has developed its own structure and its fair share of technical vocabulary and problems.
Philosophy of Science A-Z 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. It presupposes little prior knowledge of philosophy of science and is equally useful to the beginner, the more advanced student and the general reader. Readers will find in it illuminating explanations, careful analysis, relevant examples, open problems and, last but not least, precise arguments. Philosophy of science is a flourishing discipline and Philosophy of Science A to Z is a practical and imaginative way into and through it.
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Philosophy of Science A–Z Stathis Psillos These thorough, authoritative yet concise alphabetical guides introduce the central concepts of the various branches of philosophy.Written by established philosophers, they cover both traditional and contemporary terminology. Features Stathis Psillos PHILOSOPHY A–Z SERIES GENERAL EDITOR: OLIVER LEAMAN • Dedicated coverage of particular topics within philosophy • Coverage of key terms and major figures • Cross-references to related terms. Stathis Psillos While philosophy of science has always been an integral part of philosophy, since the beginning of the twentieth century it has developed its own structure and its fair share of technical vocabulary and problems. Philosophy of Science A–Z 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. It presupposes little prior knowledge of philosophy of science and is equally useful to the beginner, the more advanced student and the general reader. Stathis Psillos is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and History of Science at the University of Athens, Greece. His book Causation and Explanation (Acumen, 2002) has received the British Society for the Philosophy of Science Presidents’ Award. He is also the author of Scientific Realism: How Science Tracks Truth (Routledge, 1999) and the editor (with Martin Curd) of the Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Science (forthcoming). www.eup.ed.ac.uk ISBN 978 0 7486 2033 3 barcode Edinburgh Cover design: River Design, Edinburgh Philosophy of Science A–Z An alphabetically arranged guide to the philosophy of science. Edinburgh University Press 22 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LF Philosophy of Science A–Z PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE A–Z Volumes available in the Philosophy A–Z Series Christian Philosophy A–Z, Daniel J. Hill and Randal D. Rauser Epistemology A–Z, Martijn Blaauw and Duncan Pritchard Ethics A–Z, Jonathan A. Jacobs Feminist Philosophy A–Z, Nancy McHugh Indian Philosophy A–Z, Christopher Bartley Jewish Philosophy A–Z, Aaron W. Hughes Philosophy of Language A–Z, Alessandra Tanesini Philosophy of Mind A–Z, Marina Rakova Philosophy of Religion A–Z, Patrick Quinn Forthcoming volumes Aesthetics A–Z, Fran Guter Chinese Philosophy A–Z, Bo Mou Islamic Philosophy A–Z, Peter Groff Political Philosophy A–Z, Jon Pike Philosophy of Science A–Z Stathis Psillos Edinburgh University Press To my students C Stathis Psillos, 2007 Edinburgh University Press Ltd 22 George Square, Edinburgh Typeset in 10.5/13 Sabon by TechBooks Ind