Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kachana · 04-28-2002, 03:50 PM

I'm looking for something that gives some history of scientific methodology (e.g. Baconian Inductivism, Hypothetico-Deductivism, Falsificationism, Bayesianiam etc.), but mainly gives a good overview of current scientific methodology from a philosophical stance, and discusses criticisms and contentious issues. For instance, how do we measure explanatory power? How does the problem of induction apply to scientific methodology? When is a theory underdetermined?

I'd also be interested it has a section on the supernatural. Can scientific theories in principle appeal to supernatral forces? Can a supernatural explanation have more power? etc.

I guess I'm looking at something written at about university undergraduate level, that assumes some understanding of science and it's principles, but doesn't drop you in at the deep end.

Cheers.

[Edit: If it has less spelling and gramattical mistakes than this post that would also be a bonus]

[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Kachana ]</p>

hezekiah jones · 04-28-2002, 04:16 PM

Understanding Philosophy of Science by James Ladyman is an excellent overall introduction, published by Routledge.

Prometheus Books has a good anthology called Philosophy of Science, edited by E.D. Klemke and three others, containing articles by most of the leading lights.

Carl Hempel's Philosophy of Natural Science lays out much of the positivist view of scientific explanation.

Philip Kitcher's The Advancement of Science goes into considerably more detail than any of the above, which are fairly introductory. Kitcher was a student of both Hempel and Thomas Kuhn, I believe.

[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: hezekiahjones ]</p>

hezekiah jones · 04-28-2002, 04:32 PM

I can't resist posting this "one star" review from amazon.com of Philip Kitcher's Abusing Science, his book about creationism:

Quote:

Reviewer: A reader from APO, AP United States
I admit having not read this book. However, I believe if someone is going to read a book attacking Creationism that person should also see the argument from the other side. I understand the author has talked about Creationism in this book. I'm sure he gave it from an evolutionists point-of-view. You should see Creationism from the Creationists point-of-view. A good suggestion of the Creation Science Evangelism Seminar by Dr. Kent Hovind. You can find it at chick.com or drdino.com. It's seven video seminars. He also has a bet going on. A large sum of money to anyone with any scientific evidence supporting evolution. Maybe you should check it out.

Unbelievable.

[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: hezekiahjones ]</p>

Kachana · 04-28-2002, 04:36 PM

[QUOTE]
Understanding Philosophy of Science by James Ladyman is an excellent overall introduction, published by Routledge.[quote]

Woah, funny you should mention that, I was just thinking how relevant (but overwhelming) his vast amount of book references <a href="http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Philosophy/UG/ugunits0001/science.html" target="_blank"> here </a> on the web were; I found his page as he teaches at Bristol university where I was (I was doing psychology)!
A book by him would be great.

Thanks for the references.

hezekiah jones · 04-28-2002, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kachana:
... his vast amount of book references <a href="http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Philosophy/UG/ugunits0001/science.html" target="_blank">here</a> ...

Cool. Many of the authors and articles he cites are included in the Prometheus Books anthology. Thanks for that webpage.

Vorkosigan · 04-28-2002, 05:00 PM

Philosophy of Science and the Occult might be what you're looking for; it concentrates on demarcation issues and has numerous discussions and readings.

Vorkosigan

04-28-2002, 10:17 PM

Neurophilosophy By Patricia Churchland. The subtext is "Towards a unified science of the mind-brain". I found this book particularly interesting for Churchland's flexible and imaginitive approaches to inter-theoretic explanation.

This kind of multilayered, multidisciplinary evalation of the mind is particularly exemplary of the potential fruitfulness, indeed necessity of the interconnectedness of various perspectives between and within science and philosophy.

Bill · 04-29-2002, 08:47 PM

One book that isn't really what you are asking for here, but is somewhat peripheral to your inquiry, is the book by Michael Ruse on the development of Darwin's Theory of Evolution over time, <a href="http://www.secweb.org/bookstore/bookdetail.asp?BookID=698" target="_blank">Mystery of Mysteries : Is Evolution a Social Construction</a>. Ruse uses Darwin's theory as more of a case-in-point, though, to make some key assertions about what science is (or ought to be) and what science is not (or ought not to be). In particular, Ruse talks about just how much of "science" is really a reflection of the social culture of the times. The key is, of course, an ability to sort out the distinctions between the objective and subjective elements of science. Ruse thinks he did a bang-up job of that.

== Bill

Brian63 · 04-30-2002, 12:34 PM

Kachana,

I recently sent you a PM (unrelated to this thread), but it seems you haven't read it yet.

Brian

Adrian Selby · 04-30-2002, 12:46 PM

Hard to get hold of.
The Mental as Physical by Edgar Wilson
Very grounded in neuroscience, determinism and jurisprudence.

Adrian

though i'm slightly off the philosophy of science thing.

Anyone read Roy Bhaskar, and his theories?

<a href="http://www.raggedclaws.com/criticalrealism/archive/rts/" target="_blank">http://www.raggedclaws.com/criticalrealism/archive/rts/</a>

This is a link to what I think is a complete text on his realist theory of science.

04-28-2002, 03:50 PM	#1
Kachana Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 279	Can anyone recommend good books on the philosophy of science? I'm looking for something that gives some history of scientific methodology (e.g. Baconian Inductivism, Hypothetico-Deductivism, Falsificationism, Bayesianiam etc.), but mainly gives a good overview of current scientific methodology from a philosophical stance, and discusses criticisms and contentious issues. For instance, how do we measure explanatory power? How does the problem of induction apply to scientific methodology? When is a theory underdetermined? I'd also be interested it has a section on the supernatural. Can scientific theories in principle appeal to supernatral forces? Can a supernatural explanation have more power? etc. I guess I'm looking at something written at about university undergraduate level, that assumes some understanding of science and it's principles, but doesn't drop you in at the deep end. Cheers. [Edit: If it has less spelling and gramattical mistakes than this post that would also be a bonus] [ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: Kachana ]</p>

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04-28-2002, 04:16 PM	#2
hezekiah jones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: WI Posts: 4,357	Understanding Philosophy of Science by James Ladyman is an excellent overall introduction, published by Routledge. Prometheus Books has a good anthology called Philosophy of Science, edited by E.D. Klemke and three others, containing articles by most of the leading lights. Carl Hempel's Philosophy of Natural Science lays out much of the positivist view of scientific explanation. Philip Kitcher's The Advancement of Science goes into considerably more detail than any of the above, which are fairly introductory. Kitcher was a student of both Hempel and Thomas Kuhn, I believe. [ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: hezekiahjones ]</p>

04-28-2002, 04:36 PM	#4
Kachana Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 279	[QUOTE] Understanding Philosophy of Science by James Ladyman is an excellent overall introduction, published by Routledge.[quote] Woah, funny you should mention that, I was just thinking how relevant (but overwhelming) his vast amount of book references <a href="http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Philosophy/UG/ugunits0001/science.html" target="_blank"> here </a> on the web were; I found his page as he teaches at Bristol university where I was (I was doing psychology)! A book by him would be great. Thanks for the references.

04-28-2002, 05:00 PM	#6
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	Philosophy of Science and the Occult might be what you're looking for; it concentrates on demarcation issues and has numerous discussions and readings. Vorkosigan

04-28-2002, 10:17 PM	#7
Synaesthesia Guest Posts: n/a	Neurophilosophy By Patricia Churchland. The subtext is "Towards a unified science of the mind-brain". I found this book particularly interesting for Churchland's flexible and imaginitive approaches to inter-theoretic explanation. This kind of multilayered, multidisciplinary evalation of the mind is particularly exemplary of the potential fruitfulness, indeed necessity of the interconnectedness of various perspectives between and within science and philosophy.

04-29-2002, 08:47 PM	#8
Bill Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gatorville, Florida Posts: 4,334	One book that isn't really what you are asking for here, but is somewhat peripheral to your inquiry, is the book by Michael Ruse on the development of Darwin's Theory of Evolution over time, <a href="http://www.secweb.org/bookstore/bookdetail.asp?BookID=698" target="_blank">Mystery of Mysteries : Is Evolution a Social Construction</a>. Ruse uses Darwin's theory as more of a case-in-point, though, to make some key assertions about what science is (or ought to be) and what science is not (or ought not to be). In particular, Ruse talks about just how much of "science" is really a reflection of the social culture of the times. The key is, of course, an ability to sort out the distinctions between the objective and subjective elements of science. Ruse thinks he did a bang-up job of that. == Bill

04-30-2002, 12:34 PM	#9
Brian63 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: My own little fantasy world Posts: 8,911	Kachana, I recently sent you a PM (unrelated to this thread), but it seems you haven't read it yet. Brian

04-30-2002, 12:46 PM	#10
Adrian Selby Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Farnham, UK Posts: 859	Hard to get hold of. The Mental as Physical by Edgar Wilson Very grounded in neuroscience, determinism and jurisprudence. Adrian though i'm slightly off the philosophy of science thing. Anyone read Roy Bhaskar, and his theories? <a href="http://www.raggedclaws.com/criticalrealism/archive/rts/" target="_blank">http://www.raggedclaws.com/criticalrealism/archive/rts/</a> This is a link to what I think is a complete text on his realist theory of science.

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