2nd Edition

The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science

Edited By Stathis Psillos, Martin Curd Copyright 2014
    736 Pages
    by Routledge

    736 Pages
    by Routledge

    The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science is an indispensable reference source and guide to the major themes, debates, problems and topics in philosophy of science. It contains sixty-two specially commissioned entries by a leading team of international contributors. Organized into four parts it covers:

    • historical and philosophical context
    • debates
    • concepts
    • the individual sciences.

    The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science addresses all of the essential topics that students of philosophy of science need to know - from empiricism, explanation and experiment to causation, observation, prediction and more - and contains many helpful features including chapters on individual sciences (such as biology, chemistry, physics and psychology), further reading and cross-referencing at the end of each chapter.

    Expanded and revised throughout, this second edition includes new chapters on Conventionalism, Social Epistemology, Computer Simulation, Thought Experiments, Pseudoscience, Species and Taxonomy, and Cosmology.

    Introduction Martin Curd and Stathis Psillos  Part 1: Historical and Philosophical Context  1. Conventionalism Robert DiSalle  2. The Epistemology of Science after Quine Paul A. Roth  3. The History of Philosophy and Philosophy of Science Joanne Waugh and Roger Ariew  4. Metaphysics Stephen Mumford  5. Philosophy of Language Rod Bertolet  6. The Role of Logic in Philosophy of Science Diderik Batens  7. Critical Rationalism Gürol Irzik  8. The Historical Turn in the Philosophy of Science Alexander Bird  9. Logical Empiricism Thomas Uebel  10. Pragmatism and Science Robert Almeder  11. Social Epistemology K. Brad Wray  Part 2: Debates  12. Bayesianism Colin Howson  13. Computer Simulation Wendy S. Parker  14. Confirmation Alan Hájek and James M. Joyce  15. Empiricism Elliott Sober  16. Essentialism and Natural Kinds Brian Ellis  17. Ethics of Science David B. Resnik  18. Experiment Theodore Arabatzis  19. Explanation Jim Woodward  20. Feminist Approach to the Philosophy of Science Cassandra L. Pinnick  20. Inference to the Best Explanation Peter Lipton  22. Laws of Nature Marc Lange  23. Naturalism Ronald N. Giere  24. Realism/Anti-Realism Michael Devitt  25. Relativism about Science Maria Baghramian  26. Scientific Method Howard Sankey  27. Social Studies of Science Robert Nola  28. The Structure of Theories Steven French  29. Theory-Change John Worrall  30. Thought Experiments James Robert Brown  31. Underdetermination Igor Douven  32. Values in Science Gerald Doppelt  Part 3: Concepts  33. Causation Christopher Hitchcock  34. Determinism Barry Loewer  35. Evidence Peter Achinstein  36. Function Denis Walsh  37. Idealization James Ladyman  38. Measurement Hasok Chang and Nancy Cartwright  39. Mechanisms Stuart Glennan  40. Models Demetris Portides  41. Observation André Kukla  42. Prediction Malcolm Forster  43. Probability Maria-Carla Galavotti  44. Pseudoscience Bradley Monton  45. Reduction Sahotra Sarkar  46. Representation in Science Paul Teller  47. Scientific Discovery Thomas Nickles  48. Space and Time Oliver Pooley  49. Species and Taxonomy Marc Ereshefsky  50. Symmetry Margaret Morrison  51. Truthlikeness Graham Oddie  52. Unification Todd Jones  53. The Virtues of a Good Theory Ernan McMullin  Part 4: The Individual Sciences  54. Biology Alexander Rosenberg  55. Chemistry Robin Findlay Hendry  56. Cognitive Science Paul Thagard  57. Cosmology Chris Smeenk  58. Economics Uskali Maki  59. Mathematics Peter Clark  60. Physics Simon Saunders  61. Psychology Richard Samuels  62. Social Sciences Harold Kincaid.  Index 

    Biography

    Martin Curd is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University, USA. He is co-editor (with Jan Cover and Christopher Pincock) of Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues.

    Stathis Psillos is Professor of Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics at the University of Athens, Greece. He is the author of Scientific Realism: How Science Tracks Truth (Routledge), Causation and Explanation, Philosophy of Science A–Z, and Knowing the Structure of Nature.

    " ... any serious student of the subject will find it an invaluable resource. ... Aside from the excellent essays themselves, one of the best features from the previous edition also remains: a short paragraph following each topical essay gives the contributing author's suggestions for additional reading. Summing Up: Highly recommended." - CHOICE  

    "… The sixty-five contributors, apart from the editors, are all senior scholars with capacious knowledge of the field. As a single volume companion, it is unlikely to be surpassed." - Lindsay Parker, The Year’s Work in Critical and Cultural Theory

    Praise for the first edition:

    A CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title 2008

    "With a distinguished list of internationally renowned contributors, an excellent choice of topics in the field, and well-written, well-edited essays throughout, this compendium is an excellent resource. It will work well for any serious scholar inside or outside the field interested in the current state of philosophy of science. Highly recommended." - CHOICE

    "Highly recommended for history of science and philosophy collections." - Library Journal

    "This well-conceived companion, which brings together an impressive collection of distinguished authors, will be invaluable to novices and experienced readers alike." - Metascience

    "Here is philosophy of science the way it should be. In these pages some of the very best philosophers working today grapple with the big issues of metaphysics, language, and epistemology as they relate to science. This volume is a true introduction to a philosophy of science that has real stature; a philosophy of science that puts the subject at the crossing point of arguments from across the intellectual landscape." - Peter Galison, Harvard University, USA

    "This well-conceived and comprehensive volume brings together a remarkable collection of authors, including many of the leading contemporary contributors to the philosophy of science. It will be of great value to students of the philosophy of science at all levels." - John Dupré, University of Exeter, UK