The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of

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.

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.

Notes on Contributors

vii

Preface

x

A Brief Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

1

(17)

Peter Machamer

Philosophy of Science: Classic Debates, Standard Problems, Future Prospects

18

(19)

John Worrall

Explanation

37

(18)

Jim Woodward

Structures of Scientific Theories

55

(25)

Carl F. Craver

Reduction, Emergence and Explanation

80

(28)

Michael Silberstein

Models, Metaphors and Analogies

108

(20)

Daniela M. Bailer-Jones

Experiment and Observation

128

(21)

James Bogen

Induction and Probability

149

(24)

Alan Hajek

Ned Hall

Philosophy of Space-Time Physics

173

(26)

Craig Callender

Carl Hoefer

Interpreting Quantum Theories

199

(28)

Laura Ruetsche

Evolution

227

(25)

Roberta L. Millstein

Molecular and Developmental Biology

252

(20)

Paul Griffiths

Cognitive Science

272

(18)

Rick Grush

Social Sciences

290

(22)

Harold Kincaid

Feminist Philosophy of Science

312

(20)

Lynn Hankinson Nelson

Index

332

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The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of Science

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials