Scientific Realism and Democratic Society

Scientific Realism and Democratic Society PDF Author: Wenceslao J. Gonzalez
Publisher: Rodopi
ISBN: 9789401207355
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Philip Kitcher is among the key philosophers of science of our times. This volume offers an up to date analysis of his philosophical perspective taking into account his views on scientific realism and democratic society. The contributors to the volume focus on four different aspects of Kitcher’s thought: the evolution of his philosophy, his present views on scientific realism, the epistemological analysis of his modest (“real” or “piecemeal”) realism, and his conception of scientific practice. In the final chapter, the philosopher replies to his critics. The volume will be of interest to philosophers as well as anyone interested in the relation between science and society.

Idealization X: The Richness of Idealization

Idealization X: The Richness of Idealization PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004457690
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 541

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Book Description
Contents: Preface. - Introduction. - Science as a caricature of reality. - Three methodological revolutions. - The method of idealization. - Explanations and applications. - Truth and idealization. - A generalization of idealization. - References.

Idealization III: Approximation and Truth

Idealization III: Approximation and Truth PDF Author: Leszek Nowak
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004457240
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description


New Developments in the Theory of the Historical Process

New Developments in the Theory of the Historical Process PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004507280
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 373

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Book Description
The first part of this volume contains a selection of Leszek Nowak’s (1943-2009) papers on non-Marxian historical materialism, which are published in English for the first time. Its second part includes papers on the democratization of real socialism and the oligarchization of liberal democracy.

Non-Marxian Historical Materialism: Reconstructions and Comparisons

Non-Marxian Historical Materialism: Reconstructions and Comparisons PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004507299
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
The authors of this book reconstruct the philosophical, methodological and theoretical assumptions of non-Marxian historical materialism, a theory of historical process authored by Leszek Nowak (1943-2009), a co-founder of the Poznań School of Methodology. This book compares this theory with the concepts of Robert Michels, Vilfredo Pareto and Karl August Wittfogel.

Idealization VI: Idealization in Economics

Idealization VI: Idealization in Economics PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004457372
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description


Models and Theories

Models and Theories PDF Author: Roman Frigg
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000609537
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 508

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Book Description
Models and theories are of central importance in science, and scientists spend substantial amounts of time building, testing, comparing and revising models and theories. It is therefore not surprising that the nature of scientific models and theories has been a widely debated topic within the philosophy of science for many years. The product of two decades of research, this book provides an accessible yet critical introduction to the debates about models and theories within analytical philosophy of science since the 1920s. Roman Frigg surveys and discusses key topics and questions, including: What are theories? What are models? And how do models and theories relate to each other? The linguistic view of theories (also known as the syntactic view of theories), covering different articulations of the view, its use of models, the theory-observation divide and the theory-ladenness of observation, and the meaning of theoretical terms. The model-theoretical view of theories (also known as the semantic view of theories), covering its analysis of the model-world relationship, the internal structure of a theory, and the ontology of models. Scientific representation, discussing analogy, idealisation and different accounts of representation. Modelling in scientific practice, examining how models relate to theories and what models are, classifying different kinds of models, and investigating how robustness analysis, perspectivism, and approaches committed to uncertainty-management deal with multi-model situations. Models and Theories is the first comprehensive book-length treatment of the topic, making it essential reading for advanced undergraduates, researchers, and professional philosophers working in philosophy of science and philosophy of technology. It will also be of interest to philosophically minded readers working in physics, computer sciences and STEM fields more broadly.

Tools and Modes of Representation in the Laboratory Sciences

Tools and Modes of Representation in the Laboratory Sciences PDF Author: U. Klein
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401597375
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 290

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Book Description
constitutive of reference in laboratory sciences as cultural sign systems and their manipulation and superposition, collectively shared classifications and associated conceptual frameworks,· and various fonns of collective action and social institutions. This raises the question of how much modes of representation, and specific types of sign systems mobilized to construct them, contribute to reference. Semioticians have argued that sign systems are not merely passive media for expressing preconceived ideas but actively contribute to meaning. Sign systems are culturally loaded with meaning stemming from previous practical applications and social traditions of applications. In new local contexts of application they not only transfer stabilized meaning but also can be used as active resources to add new significance and modify previous meaning. This view is supported by several analyses presented in this volume. Sign systems can be implemented like tools that are manipulated and superposed with other types of signs to forge new representations. The mode of representation, made possible by applying and manipulating specific types of representational tools, such as diagrammatic rather than mathematical representations, or Berzelian fonnulas rather than verbal language, contributes to meaning and forges fine-grained differentiations between scientists' concepts. Taken together, the essays contained in this volume give us a multifaceted picture of the broad variety of modes of representation in nineteenth-century and twentieth-century laboratory sciences, of the way scientists juxtaposed and integrated various representations, and of their pragmatic use as tools in scientific and industrial practice.

Idealization I: General Problems

Idealization I: General Problems PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004457151
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description


The Rationality of Theism

The Rationality of Theism PDF Author: Adolfo García de la Sienra
Publisher: Rodopi
ISBN: 9789042012127
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
This is a controversial collection of brand new papers by some outstanding philosophers and scholars. Its aim is to offer comprehensive theistic replies to the traditional arguments against the existence of God.