The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Science

This volume presentsa definitive introduction to the core areas of philosophy of science.

Notes on Contributors vii

Preface x

1.A Brief Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science 1
Peter Machamer

2.Philosophy of Science: Classic Debates, Standard Problems, Future Prospects 18
John Worrall

3.Explanation 37
Jim Woodward

4.Structures of Scientific Theories 55
Carl F. Craver

5.Reduction, Emergence and Explanation 80
Michael Silberstein

6.Models, Metaphors and Analogies 108
Daniela Bailer-Jones

7.Experiment and Observation 128
James Bogen

8.Induction and Probability 149
Alan Hajek and Ned Hall

9.Philosophy of Space-Time Physics 173
Craig Callender and Carl Hoefer

10.Interpreting Quantum Theories 199
Laura Ruetsche

11.Evolution 227
Roberta L. Millstein

12.Molecular and Developmental Biology 252
Paul Griffiths

13.Cognitive science 272
Rick Grush

14.Philosophy of Social Science 290
Harold Kincaid

15.Feminist Philosophy of Science 312
Lynn Hankinson Nelson

Index 332

"This is an accessible and informative overview of central issues and themes in contemporary philosophy of science." Philip Kitcher, Columbia University

"The standard of all the essays is high, they offer extensive guides to further reading and there is a short introduction on the history of philsophy of science ... it offers an excellent resource for students and others to find out about the latest developments in the philosophy of science." Time Higher Education Supplement

"...it is inspiring to hear someone articulately introduce their field without underestimating the intelligence of their audience -- a difficult feat. This is one such introductory book. "...[I]t tackles the field from the perspective of ongoing and emerging debates, and individuals and their ideas are contextualised within these discussions. As one expects from Blackwell, the book is of uniformly high quality." Metapsychology On-line Book Reviews

Peter Machamer is Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh. He is editor of the Cambridge Companion to Galileo (1998), Scientific Controversies (2000), and Theory and Method in the Neurosciences (2001).

Michael Silberstein is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Elizabethtown College. He is an NEH Fellow who has published and delivered papers on both philosophy of science and philosophy of mind.

This volume presents a definitive introduction to the core areas of philosophy of science. Each of the chapters – written especially for this volume by internationally distinguished scholars – reviews a problem, examines the current state of the discipline with respect to the topic, and discusses possible futures of the field. Topics covered include experiment and observation, evolution, molecular and developmental biology, cognitive science, and feminist philosophy of science.

The Blackwell Guide to Philosophy of Science engages both general readers and specialists and provides a solid foundation for further study.