The process of science

Repository | Series | Book

Springer, Dordrecht

1987

221 Pages

ISBN 978-94-010-8072-9

Science and Philosophy
vol. 3

The process of science

contemporary philosophical approaches to understanding scientific practice

Edited by

Nancy J. Nersessian

For some time now the philosophy of science has been undergoing a major transfor mation. It began when the 'received view' of scientific knowledge -that developed by logical positivists and their intellectual descendants - was challenged as bearing little resemblance to and having little relevance for the understanding of real science. Subsequently, an overwhelming amount of criticism has been added. One would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would support the 'received view' today. Yet, in the search for anew analysis of scientific knowledge, this view continues to exert influence over the tenor of much of present-day philosophy of science; in particular, over its problems and its methods of analysis. There has, however, emerged an area within the discipline - called by some the 'new philosophy of science' - that has been engaged in transforming the problems and methods of philosophy of science. While there is far from a consensus of beliefs in this area, most of the following contentions would be affirmed by those working in it: - that science is an open-ended, on-going activity, whose character has changed significantly during its history - that science is not a monolithic enterprise - that good science can lead to false theories - that science has its roots in everyday circumstances, needs, methods, concepts, etc.

Publication details

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-3519-8

Full citation:

Nersessian, N. J. (ed) (1987). The process of science: contemporary philosophical approaches to understanding scientific practice, Springer, Dordrecht.

Table of Contents

Method in the philosophy of science and epistemology

Shapere Dudley

1-39