This textbook offers an introduction to the philosophy of science. It
helps undergraduate students from the natural, the human and social
sciences to gain an understanding of what science is, how it has
developed, what its core traits are, how to distinguish between
science and pseudo-science and to discover what a scientific attitude
is. It argues against the common assumption that there is fundamental
difference between natural and human science, with natural science
being concerned with testing hypotheses and discovering natural laws,
and the aim of human and some social sciences being to understand the
meanings of individual and social group actions. Instead examines the
similarities between the sciences and shows how the testing of
hypotheses and doing interpretation/hermeneutics are similar
activities. The book makes clear that lessons from natural scientists
are relevant to students and scholars within the social and human
sciences, and vice versa. It teaches its readers howto effectively
demarcate between science and pseudo-science and sets criteria for
true scientific thinking. Divided into three parts, the book first
examines the question What is Science? It describes the evolution of
science, defines knowledge, and explains the use of and need for
hypotheses and hypothesis testing. The second half of part I deals
with scientific data and observation, qualitative data and methods,
and ends with a discussion of theories on the development of science.
Part II offers philosophical reflections on four of the most important
con cepts in science: causes, explanations, laws and models. Part III
presents discussions on philosophy of mind, the relation between mind
and body, value-free and value-related science, and reflections on
actual trends in science.
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Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9783319265513
Publisert
2018
Utgiver
Vendor
Springer
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter