Theory and Reality
Theory and Reality

Author: Peter Godfrey-Smith

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2021-07-16

Total Pages: 412

ISBN-13: 022677113X

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How does science work? Does it tell us what the world is “really” like? What makes it different from other ways of understanding the universe? In Theory and Reality, Peter Godfrey-Smith addresses these questions by taking the reader on a grand tour of more than a hundred years of debate about science. The result is a completely accessible introduction to the main themes of the philosophy of science. Examples and asides engage the beginning student, a glossary of terms explains key concepts, and suggestions for further reading are included at the end of each chapter. Like no other text in this field, Theory and Reality combines a survey of recent history of the philosophy of science with current key debates that any beginning scholar or critical reader can follow. The second edition is thoroughly updated and expanded by the author with a new chapter on truth, simplicity, and models in science.

Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

Author: Anthony O'Hear

Publisher: Oxford University Press on Demand

Published: 1989

Total Pages: 239

ISBN-13: 9780198248132

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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.

A Little Book for New Philosophers
A Little Book for New Philosophers

Author: Paul Copan

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2016-10-19

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 0830894462

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What's the point of studying philosophy when we have theology? Philosophy sometimes suffers from an inferiority complex in the church. But Paul Copan contends that it is possible to affirm theology's preeminence without diminishing the contribution of philosophy. This brief introduction surveys philosophy's basic aims and defends its function in the Christian life.

The Study of Philosophy
The Study of Philosophy

Author: Andrew Pessin

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2015-03-19

Total Pages: 459

ISBN-13: 1442242833

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This seventh edition of The Study of Philosophy presents a comprehensive treatment of the major fields and figures of philosophy alongside primary readings by seminal thinkers to fuel debate and further study. New features of this edition include a substantive account of philosophical theology a reorganized treatment of early modern rationalism and empiricism discussion of the major highlights of twentieth- and twenty-first-century philosophy a survey of major contemporary moral problems From Plato to Plantinga, from Aristotle to Ayer, and from Socrates to Singer, this text brings the power of both ancient and modern philosophy to students of the twenty-first century!

The Little Book of Philosophy
The Little Book of Philosophy

Author: Rachel Poulton

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2021-10-05

Total Pages: 127

ISBN-13: 1632281341

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If you want to know your Socrates from your Sartre and your Confucius from your Kant, strap in for this whirlwind tour of the highlights of philosophy. Including accessible primers on: The early Ancient Greek philosophers and the ‘big three’: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle Key schools of philosophy and their impact on modern life Insights into the main questions philosophers have explored over the years: Who am I? What is the meaning of life? Do I have free will? Practical applications for the theories of Descartes, Kant, Wollstonecraft, Marx, Nietzsche and many more. This illuminating little book will introduce you to the key thinkers, themes and theories you need to know to understand how human ideas have sculpted the world we live in and the way we think today.

An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

Author: Kent W. Staley

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2014-11-06

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 1316094375

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This book guides readers by gradual steps through the central concepts and debates in the philosophy of science. Using concrete examples from the history of science, Kent W. Staley shows how seemingly abstract philosophical issues are relevant to important aspects of scientific practice. Structured in two parts, the book first tackles the central concepts of the philosophy of science, such as the problem of induction, falsificationism, and underdetermination, and important figures and movements, such as the logical empiricists, Thomas Kuhn, and Paul Feyerabend. The second part turns to contemporary debates in the philosophy of science, such as scientific realism, explanation, the role of values in science, the different views of scientific inference, and probability. This broad yet detailed overview will give readers a strong grounding whilst also providing opportunities for further exploration. It will be of particular interest to students of philosophy, the philosophy of science, and science.

Introduction to the Philosophies of Research and Criticism in Education and the Social Sciences
Introduction to the Philosophies of Research and Criticism in Education and the Social Sciences

Author: James L. Paul

Publisher: Prentice Hall

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13:

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This rigorous volume focuses on the underlying perspectives justifying the major approaches currently being used in educational research. Introductory chapters lay the foundation for exploring varying research perspectives. Nine specific perspectives on research—post positivism, pragmatism, constructivism, ethics and deliberate democracy, criticism, interpretivism, race/ethnicity/gender, arts-based research, and post structuralism—are examined, through discussions written by senior scholars known for their expertise in the perspective. And, a “guided tour” of criticism is given, in which these same scholars demonstrate the use of the “critical method” by critiquing six studies selected as exemplars of different research approaches. For education students who aspire to become researchers, and for those who simply need to read and understand research literature.

The Meaning of Science
The Meaning of Science

Author: Tim Lewens

Publisher: Basic Books

Published: 2016-01-26

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 0465097499

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A philosopher of science examines the biggest ethical and moral issues in science today, and explains why they matter for all of us -- scientist and layman alike Science has produced explanations for everything from the mechanisms of insect navigation to the formation of black holes and the workings of black markets. But how much can we trust science, and can we actually know the world through it? How does science work and how does it fail? And how can the work of scientists help -- or hurt -- everyday people? These are not questions that science can answer on its own. This is where philosophy of science comes in. Studying science without philosophy is, to quote Einstein, to be "like somebody who has seen thousands of trees but has never seen a forest." Cambridge philosopher Tim Lewens shows us the forest. He walks us through the theories of seminal philosophers of science Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn and considers what science is, how far it can and should reach, and how we can determine the nature of its truths and myths. These philosophical issues have consequences that stretch far beyond the laboratory. For instance: What role should scientists have in policy discussions on environmental issues such as fracking? What are the biases at play in the search for a biological function of the female orgasm? If brain scans can be used to demonstrate that a decision was made several seconds before a person actually makes a conscious choice, what does that tell us about the possibility of free will? By examining science through this philosophical lens, Lewens reveals what physics can teach us about reality, what biology teaches us about human nature, and what cognitive science teaches us about human freedom. A masterful analysis of the biggest scientific and ethical issues of our age, The Meaning of Science forces us to confront the practical, personal, and political purposes of science -- and why it matters to all of us.

An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art
An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art

Author: Richard Eldridge

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2003-09-25

Total Pages: 300

ISBN-13: 9780521805216

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Richard Eldridge presents a clear and compact survey of philosophical theories of the nature and significance of art. Drawing on materials from classical and contemporary philosophy as well as from literary theory and art criticism, he explores the representational, expressive, and formal dimensions of art, and he argues that works of art present their subject matter in ways that are of enduring cognitive, moral, and social interest. His accessible study will be invaluable to students and to all readers who are interested in the relation between thought and art.

An Introduction To The Study Of Philosophy
An Introduction To The Study Of Philosophy

Author: Emanuel Vogel Gerhart

Publisher: Legare Street Press

Published: 2023-07-18

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781020192722

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This classic text by Emanuel Vogel Gerhart is an essential resource for anyone studying philosophy. Providing a comprehensive introduction to key philosophical concepts and theories, Gerhart also offers a detailed treatise on logic. With its clear, concise prose and insightful analysis, this book is a valuable guide for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the field of philosophy. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.