Representing and Intervening: Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science

by Ian Hacking

Overview

This 1983 book is a lively and clearly written introduction to the philosophy of natural science, organized around the central theme of scientific realism. It has two parts. 'Representing' deals with the different philosophical accounts of scientific objectivity and the reality of scientific entities. The views of Kuhn, Feyerabend, Lakatos, Putnam, van Fraassen, and others, are all considered. 'Intervening' presents the first sustained treatment of experimental science for many years and uses it to give a new direction to debates about realism. Hacking illustrates how experimentation often has a life independent of theory. He argues that although the philosophical problems of scientific realism can not be resolved when put in terms of theory alone, a sound philosophy of experiment provides compelling grounds for a realistic attitude. A great many scientific examples are described in both parts of the book, which also includes lucid expositions of recent high energy physics and a remarkable chapter on the microscope in cell biology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107263505
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/20/1983
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

Table of Contents

Analytical table of contents; Preface; Introduction: rationality; Part I. Representing: 1. What is scientific realism?; 2. Building and causing; 3. Positivism; 4. Pragmatism; 5. Incommensurability; 6. Reference; 7. Internal realism; 8. A surrogate for truth; Part II. Intervening: 9. Experiment; 10. Observation; 11. Microscopes; 12. Speculation, calculation, models, approximations; 13. The creation of phenomena; 14. Measurement; 15. Baconian topics; 16. Experimentation and scientific realism; Further reading; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'In summary, Hacking's book is an extremely valuable contribution … I urge you all to read it and to use it in your courses on the philosophy of science.' British Journal of the Philosophy of Science

' … its refreshingly provocative style and broad sweep will excite readers much more than the usual woodenly written introductions.' The Times Literary Supplement

From the Publisher