In the past thirty years, two fundamental issues have emerged in the philosophy of science. One concerns the appropriate attitude we should take towards scientific theories--whether we should regard them as true or merely empirically adequate, for example. The other concerns the nature of scientific theories and models and how these might best be represented. In this ambitious book, da Costa and French bring these two issues together by arguing that theories and models should be regarded as partially rather than wholly true. They adopt a framework that sheds new light on issues to do with...
In the past thirty years, two fundamental issues have emerged in the philosophy of science. One concerns the appropriate attitude we should take towar...
What is spacetime? General relativity and quantum field theory answer this question in very different ways. This collection of essays by physicists and philosophers looks at the problem of uniting these two most fundamental theories of our world, focusing on the nature of space and time within this new quantum framework, and the kind of metaphysical picture suggested by recent developments in physics and mathematics. This is a book that will inspire further philosophical reflection on recent advances in modern physics.
What is spacetime? General relativity and quantum field theory answer this question in very different ways. This collection of essays by physicists an...
Steven French and Decio Krause examine the metaphysical foundations of quantum physics. They draw together historical, logical, and philosophical perspectives on the fundamental nature of quantum particles and offer new insights on a range of important issues. Focusing on the concepts of identity and individuality, the authors explore two alternative metaphysical views; according to one, quantum particles are no different from books, tables, and people in this respect; according to the other, they most certainly are. Each view comes with certain costs attached and after describing their...
Steven French and Decio Krause examine the metaphysical foundations of quantum physics. They draw together historical, logical, and philosophical pers...
This volume is presented in honour of Heinz Post, who founded a distinc tive and distinguished school of philosophy of science at Chelsea College, University of London. The 'Chelsea tradition' in philosophy of science takes the content of science seriously, as exemplified by the papers presented here. The unifying theme of this work is that of 'Correspondence, Invariance and Heuristics', after the title of a classic and seminal paper by Heinz Post, published in 1971, which is reproduced in this volume with the kind permission of the editors and publishers of Studies in History and Philosophy...
This volume is presented in honour of Heinz Post, who founded a distinc tive and distinguished school of philosophy of science at Chelsea College, Uni...
The philosophical questions raised by the history and practice of science are among the most complex and stimulating. Science: Key Concepts in Philosophy is the ideal first stop for any student wishing to get to grips with this challenging subject. Written with the specific needs of students new to the discipline in mind, it covers the work of key thinkers and outlines clearly the central questions, problems and arguments encountered in studying the philosophy of science. This is a practical and informative introduction to a major component of the undergraduate philosophy...
The philosophical questions raised by the history and practice of science are among the most complex and stimulating. Science: Key Concepts i...
The philosophical questions raised by the history and practice of science are among the most complex and stimulating. The philosophy of science inquires into such matters as scientific reasoning, scientific explanation, the nature and value of scientific knowledge, progress in science, and the debate between realist and anti-realist views of science. Science: Key Concepts in Philosophy is the ideal first stop for the student wishing to get to grips with this challenging subject. Written with the specific needs of students new to the discipline in mind, it covers the work of key thinkers...
The philosophical questions raised by the history and practice of science are among the most complex and stimulating. The philosophy of science inq...
Can quantum particles be regarded as individuals, just like books, tables and people? According to the 'received' view - articulated by several physicists in the immediate aftermath of the quantum revolution - quantum physics itself tells us they cannot: quantum particles, unlike their classical counterparts, must be regarded as 'non-individuals' in some sense. However, recent work has indicated that this is not the whole story and that the theory is also consistent with the position that such particles can be taken to be individuals, albeit at a metaphysical price. Drawing on...
Can quantum particles be regarded as individuals, just like books, tables and people? According to the 'received' view - articulated by several physic...
Imagine a place where all your darkest dreams and greatest fears manifest into reality. Think of abandoned urban streets, shrouded by rain and fog, where nightmare creatures prowl the everlasting night in search of human prey. Picture a desolate world ruled by petty and despotic gods who toy with the lives of mortals as if they were nothing more than disposable pawns in a cruel game of salvation and death. Welcome to Misty Springs, Colorado. Brent Griffis awoke alone one day to find everyone he knew and loved was gone. What was worse is that the world had changed into a nightmare...
Imagine a place where all your darkest dreams and greatest fears manifest into reality. Think of abandoned urban streets, shrouded by rain and fog, wh...
The Bloomsbury Companion to the Philosophy of Science presents a practical and up-to-date research resource to the philosophy of science.
Addressing fundamental questions asked by areas that have continued to attract interest historically, as well as recently-emerging areas of research, this volume provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the philosophy of science. Specially-commissioned essays from an international team of experts reveal where important work continues to be done in the area and the exciting new directions the field is taking. The Companion...
The Bloomsbury Companion to the Philosophy of Science presents a practical and up-to-date research resource to the philosophy of science.
In The Structure of the World, Steven French articulates and defends the bold claim that there are no objects. At the most fundamental level, modern physics presents us with a world of structures and making sense of that view is the central aim of the increasingly widespread position known as structural realism. Drawing on contemporary work in metaphysics and philosophy of science, as well as the 'forgotten' history of structural realism itself, French attempts to further ground and develop this position. He argues that structural realism offers the best way of balancing our need to...
In The Structure of the World, Steven French articulates and defends the bold claim that there are no objects. At the most fundamental level, modern p...
