Worldviews : An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science

by Dewitt, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781405195638
• ISBN10: 1405195630
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-04
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Updated throughout and with three entirely new chapters, Worldviews: An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science, Second Edition furthers its reputation as the definitive introductory text on the historical developments and philosophical issues that inform our scientific view of the world around us. Represents an innovative introduction to the history and philosophy of science, designed especially for those coming to the subject for the first time Updated new edition features the addition of chapters focusing on scientific laws, evolutionary theory, and implications of evolution Covers the key historical developments and philosophical themes that have impacted our scientific view of the world around us Analyzes the transitions from the Aristotelian worldview to the Newtonian worldview to a new and currently developing worldview Explores challenges to the Western scientific worldview brought on by recent discoveries

Author Biography

Richard DeWitt is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Fairfield University. In addition to the history and philosophy of science, his research interests are in the areas of mathematical and philosophical logic, and the philosophy of mind.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. 1
Fundamental Issues	p. 5
Worldviews	p. 7
Truth	p. 17
Empirical Facts and Philosophical/Conceptual Facts	p. 32
Confirming and Disconfirming Evidence and Reasoning	p. 38
The Quine-Duhem Thesis and Implications for Scientific Method	p. 46
Philosophical Interlude: Problems and Puzzles of Induction	p. 58
Falsifiability	p. 66
Instrumentalism and Realism	p. 71
The Transition from the Aristotelian Worldview to the Newtonian Worldview	p. 79
The Structure of the Universe on the Aristotelian Worldview	p. 81
The Preface to Ptolemy's Almagest: The Earth as Spherical, Stationary, and at the Center of the Universe	p. 87
Astronomical Data: The Empirical Facts	p. 99
Astronomical Data: The Philosophical/Conceptual Facts	p. 106
The Ptolemaic System	p. 113
The Copernican System	p. 123
The Tychonic System	p. 134
Kepler's System	p. 137
Galileo and the Evidence from the Telescope	p. 148
A Summary of Problems Facing the Aristotelian Worldview	p. 164
Philosophical and Conceptual Connections in the Development of the New Science	p. 170
Overview of the New Science and the Newtonian Worldview	p. 175
Philosophical Interlude: What is a Scientific Law?	p. 183
The Development of the Newtonian Worldview, 1700-1900	p. 192
Recent Developments in Science and Worldviews	p. 205
The Special Theory of Relativity	p. 207
The General Theory of Relativity	p. 227
Overview of the Empirical Facts, Mathematics, and Interpretations of Quantum Theory	p. 235
Quantum Theory and Locality: EPR, Bell's Theorem, and the Aspect Experiments	p. 272
Overview of the Theory of Evolution	p. 287
Philosophical and Conceptual Implications of Evolution	p. 310
Worldviews: Concluding Thoughts	p. 341
Chapter Notes and Suggested Reading	p. 349
References	p. 366
Index	p. 371
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.