Problems in the Philosophy of Science (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Problem in the Philosopy of Science 4
Copyright Page 5
CONTENTS 8
Preface 6
CHAPTER 1. SCEPTICISM, THEOLOGY AND THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 12
Discussion 40
Science and theology in the seventeenth century 40
The greater danger – science or biblical criticism? 44
Reply 47
CHAPTER 2. THEORIES OF DEMARCATION BETWEEN SCIENCE AND METAPHYSICS 51
Discussion 76
Refutation by observation and refutation by theory 76
Empiricism, refutability, rationality 78
On a demarcation dispute 89
Remarks on the problems of demarcation and of rationality 99
Reply 113
CHAPTER 3. THE MATURATION OF SCIENCE 131
Discussion 149
Science and philosophy of science 149
Non-apparent depth, depth, and pseudo-depth 150
Maturity, depth and objectivity in science 151
Reply 153
CHAPTER 4. SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY AND THE CAUSAL THEORY OF PERCEPTION 159
Discussion 172
Comment on Maxwell's paper 172
Is there an epistemological problem of perception? 174
Are all our common sense judgements false? 175
Secondary qualities and the causal theory of per- ception 176
Reply 178
CHAPTER 5. A BUDGET OF PARADOXES IN PHYSICS 189
Discussion 211
Comment on Yourgrau’s paper 211
On so-called paradoxes in physics 213
Reply 215
CHAPTER 6. FORMAL LOGIC AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE 221
Discussion 234
Definability in enlarged universes 234
Revolutionary changes, non-translatability, and crucial experiments 234
Reply 238
CHAPTER 7. EPISTEMOLOGY AND EXPERIMENT: THE CASE OF MICHAEL FARADAY 242
Discussion 251
Faraday and mathematics 251
The various funotions of experiment 251
Mathematics, observation, and physical thought 253
Reply 255
CHAPTER 8. THE GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY – CASE STUDY IN THE UNFOLDING OF NEW PHYSICAL CONCEPTS 260
Discussion 272
Principle of covariance or principle of impotence? 272
Material frames and imperceptible “observables” 272
Reply 274
CHAPTER 9. THE INFLUENCE OF EPISTEMOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: ‘LENGTH’ AND ‘TIME’ IN THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY 277
Discussion 285
On an argument of Professor Juhos 285
The nonoperational nature of theoretical concepts 285
Reply 287
CHAPTER 10. INFORMATION PROCESSING AND CHOICE BEHAVIOR 289
Discussion 311
Bayesian theory and randomization – resolution of a paradox 311
Randomization in sample design 312
Reply 314
CHAPTER 11. INDIVIDUALISTIC AND FUNCTIONALISTIC EXPLANATIONS IN THE LIGHT OF GAME THEORY: THE EXAMPLE OF SOCIAL STATUS 316
Discussion 333
A note on individualistic explanations 333
Reply 348
CHAPTER 12. THE PRESENT STATE OF THEORY IN SOCIOLOGY 360
Discussion 382
Reward values as explanatory variables in social theories 382
Reply 385
CHAPTER 13. THE NEW IDEALISM – CAUSE AND MEANING IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES 388
Discussion 418
The very idea of a social science 418
Anthropomorphism in social science 434
Reply 437
CHAPTER 14. ANTI-DUALIST OUTLOOK AND SOCIAL ENQUIRY 444
Discussion 451
Interactionism – could experiments decide? 451
Dr. Wisdom on the mind–body problem: a comment 453
Reply 457