So this is kinda weird: I have a PhD, which stands for Doctor of Philosophy. But I have practically zero formal training in philosophy 🤷♂️. Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction by Samir Okasha was a great survey of the field to get anyone up to speed on the foundations of science. The book tackles questions like: What is science? How is it used? Can science prove everything? Can science prove *anything*? After reading the ideas of a lot of scientists and philosophers, it’s easy to see that science is a powerful method of examining and making sense of the world we live in. It’s so good that some people think it’s the *only* way we can discover truth about reality and we should use it for everything! (a philosophy called ‘scientism’). But for what it’s worth, it’s not the only method. And for some things it’s not a very good method at all (like for example ethics, art, value judgments, the meaning of life and the human need for spiritual fulfillment). After examining a number of leading ideas in the philosophy of science, I think it’s actually more accurate to recognize that scientific knowledge and theories are *provisional* - not ‘truth’ in the absolute sense of the word, but useful approximations (subject to revision) that allow us to explain past observations and predict future ones. This philosophy is called ‘instrumentalism’, and adopted by a long list of brilliant scientists who shaped today’s refined scientific view of Nature. Highly recommend this short survey for anyone who wants to understand the power - and limits - of scientific inquiry.
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普通車でのキャンプマニアReviewed in Japan on July 17, 2024
科学哲学入門に最適でバランスの取れた叙述が特徴
Format: eTextbookVerified Purchase - Amazon CustomerReviewed in India on August 29, 2023
Very clear and concise
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase - Asante LawlaReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2019
Great introduction
Format: eTextbookVerified Purchase -
Jesus MatusReviewed in Mexico on August 17, 2023
Buena introducción
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
