Losee John. A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

4th edition. — Oxford University Press, 2001. — 328 p.Designed for first-time readers of the subject, this stimulating introduction offers a historical exposition of differing views on the philosophy of science. With concise profiles presenting the major philosophers whose contributions are discussed in this book, Losee explores the long-argued questions raised by philosophers and scientists about the proper evaluation of science. This new edition incorporates contemporary developments in the discipline, including recent work on theory-appraisal, experimental practice, the debate over scientific realism, and the philosophy of biology. Taking a balanced and informative approach, this work is the ideal introductory volume.Aristotle’s Philosophy of Science
The Pythagorean Orientation
The Ideal of Deductive Systematization
Atomism and the Concept of Underlying Mechanism
Affirmation and Development of Aristotle’s Method in the
Medieval Period
The Debate over Saving the Appearances
The Seventeenth-Century Attack on Aristotelian Philosophy
Galileo
Francis Bacon
Descartes
Newton’s Axiomatic Method
Analyses of the Implications of the New Science for a Theory of Scientific Method
The Cognitive Status of Scientific Laws
Theories of Scientific Procedure
Structure of Scientific Theories
Inductivism v. the Hypothetico-Deductive View of Science
Mathematical Positivism and Conventionalism
Logical Reconstructionist Philosophy of Science
Orthodoxy under Attack
Theories of Scientific Progress
Explanation, Causation, and Unification
Confirmation, Evidential Support, and Theory Appraisal
The Justification of Evaluative Standards
The Debate over Scientific Realism
Descriptive Philosophies of Science
Select Bibliography
Index of Proper Names
Index of Subjects