The Concept of Scientific Law in the Philosophy of Science and Epistemology: A Study of Theoretical Reason

ISBN-13: 9780792358527 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 230 str.

Igor Hanzel

Opis

The author argues that a reconstruction of scientific laws should give an account of laws relating phenomena to underlying mechanisms generating them, as well as of laws relating this mechanism to its inherent capacities. While contemporary philosophy of science deals only with the former, the author provides the concept for the reconstruction of scientific laws, where the knowledge of the phenomena enables one to grasp the quantity of their cause. He then provides the concepts for scientific laws dealing with the relation of the quantity and quality of the cause underlying phenomena to the quality and quantity of its capacities. Finally, he provides concepts for scientific laws expressing how a certain cause, due to the quantity and quality of its capacities, generates the quantitative and qualitative determinations of its manifestations. The book is intended for philosophers of science and philosophers of social science, as well as for natural and social scientists.

Spis treści

Introduction. Acknowledgements. Part 1: The Law of Appearance: 1. The Law of Appearance. 2. Popper's Moa. Part 2: The Idealizational Law of Essence: 3. The Idealizational Law of Essence. 4. Ontological Foundations. 5. The Inherent Law of Essence. 6. Three Faces of Measure. 7. The Essential Formality. 8. The Inherent Law and Essentialism. 9. Substance-Subject. 10. Epistemology and Logic. 11. Hegel's and Marx's Categories: A Comparison Conclusion. Notes. References. Name Index. Subject Index.