Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series)

Theory And Reality Covers Logical Positivism, The Problems Of Induction And Confirmation; Karl Popper's Theory Of Science; Thomas Kuhn And Scientific Revolutions; The Views Of Imre Lakatos, Larry Laudan, And Paul Feyerabend; And Challenges To The Field From Sociology Of Science, Feminism, And Science Studies. The Book Then Looks In More Detail At Some Specific Problems And Theories, Including Scientific Realism, The Theory-ladeness Of Observation, Scientific Explanation, And Bayesianism. Finally, Godfrey-smith Defends A Form Of Philosophical Naturalism As The Best Way To Solve The Main Problems In The Field.--publisher Description. Introduction -- Logic Plus Empiricism -- Induction And Confirmation -- Popper : Conjecture And Refutation -- Kuhn And Normal Science -- Kuhn And Revolutions -- Lakatos, Laudan, Feyerabend, And Frameworks -- The Challenge From Sociology Of Science -- Feminism And Science Studies -- Naturalistic Philosophy In Theory And Practice -- Naturalism And The Social Structure Of Science -- Scientific Realism -- Explanation -- Bayesianism And Modern Theories Of Evidence -- Empiricism, Naturalism, And Scientific Realism? Peter Godfrey-smith. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 243-254) And Index.