Philosophy of Science in the Twentieth Century: An Introduction

Ronald M. Harris9781884207785, 1884207782

This book traces the development during the 20th century of four central themes in the philosophy of science. The themes, chosen for their importance are expounded in a way which does not presuppose any previous knowledge of philosophy or science. The book thus constitutes an excellent introduction to the philosophy of science.

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Table of contents :
Contents……Page 3
Preface……Page 5
I. Inductivism and its Critics……Page 8
1. Some Historical Background……Page 9
2. Popper’s
Critique of inductivism……Page 21
3. Duhem’s Critique of Inductivism……Page 35
ll. Conventionalism and the Duhem-Ouine Thesis……Page 44
4. Poincare’s Conventionalism of 1902……Page 45
5. The Duhem Thesis and the Ouine Thesis……Page 57
lll. The Nature of Observation……Page 66
6. Protocol Sentences……Page 67
7. ls Observation Theory-Laden?……Page 74
lV. The Demarcation between Science and Metaphysics……Page 83
8. ls Metaphysics Meaningless? Wittgenstein, the Vienna Circle, and Popper’s Critique……Page 84
9. Metaphysics in Relation to Science: The Views of Popper, Duhem, and Ouine……Page 102
10. Falsificationism in the Light of the Duhem-Quine Thesis……Page 110