The Scenes of Inquiry On the Reality of

This book advocates a radical shift of concern in philosophical, historical, and sociological studies of the sciences, and explores the consequences of such a shift. It is argued that recent studies in the sociology and social history of the sciences pose strong challenges by revealing how appeals to authority, vested interests, and rhetorical and aesthetic sensibilities play substantial roles in scientific practices.

Nicholas Jardine is Professor of History and Philosophy of the Sciences at the University of Cambridge.

Introduction: Focusing on Questions

1

(10)

The Origin of the Present Work

1

(1)

The Aims of the Work

2

(2)

Metaphysical Assumptions

4

(1)

Plan of the Work

5

(6)

PART I. LOCAL REALITY

Scenes of Natural History

11

(45)

Introduction

11

(1)

An Agenda of Natural History

12

(5)

Foci of Controversy

17

(8)

Blumenbach and the Formative Drive

25

(3)

Kant: Teleology and Mechanism

28

(5)

Forays Beyond the Bounds of Sense: Herder, Kielmeyer and Goethe

33

(10)

Schelling and Oken: Kingdoms Beyond the Bounds of Sense

43

(7)

Shifting Scenes

50

(6)

Local Reality and Interpretation

56

(21)

Local Reality

56

(2)

Some Difficulties

58

(4)

Local Reality and Intelligibility

62

(3)

Strengths of our Account of Local Reality

65

(3)

Gadamer: Interpretation of Classic Works

68

(9)

Explaining Scenes

77

(17)

Introduction

77

(2)

Presuppositions

79

(4)

Methodical Commitments

83

(7)

Access to Methods and Practices

90

(4)

The Origins of Method

94

(27)

Introduction

94

(2)

Common Sense

96

(3)

Pontifical Disciplines

99

(4)

Exemplary Disciplines

103

(4)

Genuine Innovation

107

(2)

Remote Factors: Sites of Origin and Modes of Diffusion

109

(5)

Remote Factors: Stimuli to Change

114

(5)

Conclusion

119

(2)

Legitimation and History

121

(25)

Types and Contexts of Legitimation

121

(3)

History in the Sciences

124

(6)

Strategies of Historical Legitimation

130

(2)

Disciplinary Histories: Four Examples

132

(14)

A New Historiography

146

(9)

PART II. ABSOLUTE REALITY

Absolute Reality and Dissociation

155

(13)

Absolute Reality

155

(1)

Hacking's Challenge

155

(5)

Implications of Dissociation

160

(1)

Meeting Hacking's Challenge

161

(7)

The Sociological Challenge

168

(25)

Introduction

168

(2)

Collins: Calibrations Fair and Foul

170

(7)

Interest Theory

177

(8)

Networks and Multiple Constraints

185

(8)

Rhetoric, Aesthetics and Reliability

193

(32)

Introduction

193

(3)

Placing Experiments in Natural Philosophy

196

(4)

Discourses of Chemistry

200

(4)

The Challenge of Literary and Aesthetic Strategies

204

(1)

Meeting the Literary and Aesthetic Challenge

205

(3)

The Very Possibility of a Reliable Aesthetics

208

(17)

Conclusion: Beware of Science

225

(18)

PART III. SUPPLEMENTARY ESSAYS (2000)

Original Meanings and Historical Interpretation

243

(16)

Introduction

243

(1)

Historical Understanding

244

(2)

Adequacy of Interpretation

246

(5)

Determinacy of Meaning

251

(2)

Consistency and Coherence

253

(3)

Forms of Literate Life

256

(3)

Original Significances and Historical Explanation

259

(15)

Introduction

259

(1)

Some Demands of Historical Explanation

260

(5)

The Significances of Actions

265

(3)

Original Significances and Causal Explanations

268

(6)

Where Meanings Were Made

274

(15)

Introduction

274

(1)

Laboratories

275

(1)

Cabinets and Museums

276

(4)

Authors, Heroic and Routine

280

(5)

Contingencies of Innovation

285

(4)

Bibliography

289

(22)

Index

311

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Scenes of Inquiry On the Reality of Questions in the Sciences

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Scenes of Inquiry On the Reality of Questions in the Sciences

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License