Plato's Philosophy of Science

by Andrew Gregory

Overview

In this illuminating book Andrew Gregory takes an original approach to Plato's philosophy of science by reassessing Plato's views on how we might investigate and explain the natural world. He demonstrates that many of the common charges against Plato - disinterest, ignorance, dismissal of observation - are unfounded, and shows instead that Plato had a series of important and cogent criticisms to make of the early atomists and other physiologoi. Plato's views on science, and on astronomy and cosmology in particular, are shown to have developed in interesting ways. Thus, the book argues, Plato can best be seen as a philosopher struggling with the foundations of scientific realism, and as someone, moreover, who has interesting epistemological, cosmological and nomological reasons for his approach.

Plato's Philosophy of Science is important reading for all those with an interest in Ancient Philosophy and the History of Science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472502384
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	03/02/2015
Series:	Criminal Practice Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Andrew Gregory is Reader of Science in the Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, UK. He is the author of many books on the science of the ancient world, including Plato's Philosophy of Science (2000), Eureka! The Birth of Science (2001) and Ancient Greek Cosmogony (2008)
Andrew Gregory is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, University College London, UK. He is the author of many books on the science of the ancient world, including Plato's Philosophy of Science (2000), Eureka! The Birth of Science (2001) and Ancient Greek Cosmogony (2008)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Cosmology, Cosmogony and Teleology
2. Astronomy, Observation and Experiment
3. Meno's Paradox and Underdetemination
4. Celestial Motion in the Timaeus
5. Plato and the Development of Greek Astronomy
6. Plato and the Development of Greek Cosmology
7. Geometrical Atomism – Flux and Language
8. Geometrical Atomism – Matter and Space
9. Epistemology in the Timaeus and Philebus
10. Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index Locorum
Index of names
General index