Thomas S. Kuhn (1922-1996) transformed the philosophy of science. His seminal 1962 work, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, sold over one million copies and was translated into more than a dozen languages. It introduced the term "paradigm shift" into the vernacular and remains a fundamental text in the study of the history and philosophy of science. This introduction to Kuhn's ideas situates The Structure of Scientific Revolutions within the development of his thought over time.

Alexander Bird explains Kuhn's central distinction between normal and...

This is an introductory textbook, organized conceptually, aimed at both philosophy students and science students taking philosophy of science courses.

Nature's Metaphysics argues that a satisfactory philosophy of science requires a metaphysics that is based on the understanding that causal properties are essentially dispositional properties. Alexander Bird develops and defends a dispositional essentialist account of the laws of nature, and also examines dispositional accounts of explanation, causation, ceteris paribus laws, substances and kinds. Professional philosophers and advanced students working in metaphysics and the philosophy of science will find this book both provocative and stimulating.

While the phrase "metaphysics of science" has been used from time to time, it has only recently begun to denote a specific research area where metaphysics meets philosophy of science and the sciences themselves. The essays in this volume demonstrate that metaphysics of science is an innovative field of research in its own right. The principle areas covered are:

• The modal metaphysics of properties: What is the essential nature of natural properties? Are all properties essentially categorical? Are they all essentially dispositions, or are some categorical and others...

Proceedings of a conference held in July 2009 at the University of Melbourne.While the phrase metaphysics of science has been used from time to time, it has only recently begun to denote a specific research area where metaphysics meets philosophy of science--and the sciences themselves. The essays in this volume demonstrate that metaphysics of science is an innovative field of research in its own right. The principle areas covered are: The modal metaphysics of properties: What is the essential nature of natural properties? Are all properties essentially categorical? Are they all essentially...

This title offers a selection of through provoking articles that examine a broad range of issues, from the demarcation problem, induction, and explanation, to contemporary issues such as the relationship between science and race and gender, and science and religion.