The Philosophy of Science: A Companion
Anouk Baberousse, Denis Bonnay, and Mikael Cozic
Abstract
Philosophy of science studies the methods, theories, and concepts used by scientists. It mainly developed as a field in its own right during the twentieth century and is now a diversified and lively research area. This book surveys the current state of the discipline by focusing on central themes such as confirmation of scientific hypotheses, scientific explanation, causality, the relationship between science and metaphysics, scientific change, the relationship between philosophy of science and science studies, the role of theories and models, and unity of science. These themes define general ... More
Philosophy of science studies the methods, theories, and concepts used by scientists. It mainly developed as a field in its own right during the twentieth century and is now a diversified and lively research area. This book surveys the current state of the discipline by focusing on central themes such as confirmation of scientific hypotheses, scientific explanation, causality, the relationship between science and metaphysics, scientific change, the relationship between philosophy of science and science studies, the role of theories and models, and unity of science. These themes define general philosophy of science. The book also presents subdisciplines in the philosophy of science dealing with the main sciences: logic, mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, cognitive science, linguistics, social sciences, and economics. Although it is common to address the specific philosophical problems raised by physics and biology in such a book, the place assigned to the philosophy of special sciences is much more unusual. Most authors collaborate on a regular basis in their research or teaching and share a common vision of philosophy of science and its place within philosophy and academia in general. The chapters have been written in close accordance with the three editors, thus achieving strong unity of style and tone.
Keywords:
philosophy of science,
philosophy of the special sciences,
explanation,
confirmation,
realism,
theories,
philosophy of mathematics,
philosophy of physics,
philosophy of social sciences,
philosophy of cognitive sciences
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2018 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780190690649 |
| Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: July 2018 |
DOI:10.1093/oso/9780190690649.001.0001 |
Authors
Affiliations are at time of print publication.
Anouk Baberousse, editor
Professor of Philosophy of Science, Sorbonne Université
Denis Bonnay, editor
Assistant Professor in Logic and Philosophy of Mind, Université Paris Nanterre
Mikael Cozic, editor
Assistant Professor in Philosophy of Science, Université Paris-Est Créteil
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