The Advancement of Science: Science Without Legend, Objectivity Without IllusionsSetting a new agenda for the philosophy of science and for other "science studies" disciplines, in this book the well-known philosopher Philip Kitcher offers an innovative and detailed picture of the advancement of science. During the last three decades, reflections on the growth of scientific knowledge have inspired historians, sociologists, and some philosophers to contend that scientific objectivity is a myth. In this book, Kitcher attempts to resurrect the notions of objectivity and progress in science by identifying both the limitations of idealized treatments of growth of knowledge and the overreactions to philosophical idealizations. Recognizing that science is done not by logically omniscient subjects working in isolation, but by people with a variety of personal and social interests who cooperate and compete with one another, he argues that, nonetheless, we may conceive the growth of science as a process in which both our vision of nature and our ways of learning more about nature improve. Undertaking a novel synthesis that preserves the very conceptions of objectivity and progress in epistemology and philosophy of science, this book accommodates and examines the insights of historians and sociologists of science who have criticized traditional philosophy of science. Pointing to a new way of discussing science, The Advancement of Science is of key interest to philosophers of science, historians of science, sociologists of science, and reflective scientists. |
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accepted achieve allelic answer apparent argument articulated assessment assigned authority Bayesian beliefs biogeography biology calx chapter claims cognitive cognitive progress commitments conception consensus practice consider constraints contemporary Copernicanism correct Darwin Darwinian debate decision declarative memory dependencies discussion distribution epistemic epistemological erotetic evolutionary example expected utility explanation explanatory schemata formulate Fresnel Galileo genetic goals Greywacke history of science hypotheses idea important individual practices induction instances instantiations involved issues kinds Kuhn Laudan Lavoisier Lavoisier's modification natural selection notion observation offered optimal organisms P₁ P₂ paleontologists particular phenomena philosophical philosophy of science phlogiston phlogiston theory phlogistonians possible Priestley principle probability problem procedural memory processes propensities questions rationality realist reasoning recognize reference potential relatively replicate rival schema scientific scientists sequence significant social species statements strategies structure success suggest suppose T₁ T₂ theory traditional truth underdetermination variation