Overview

In science it is obvious that we are certain about many things, but among philosophers there is little agreement as to why we know these things. In Knowing Things for Sure physicist and realist philosopher, Mariano Artigas traces the confusion to non-realist philosophies and argues that practitioners of experimental science do reach logical truths about reality. This comprehensive survey of the philosophy of science and mini-history of science uses historical evidence to discuss the aim of science and show how scientists achieve inter-subjective agreement, reach truths about reality, and ultimately impact philosophy. Some of the scientific discoveries and methods referenced include the discovery of elements and the role of the periodic table, Mendel's mathematization of heredity through experiments with peas, Darwin's hypothesis as a framework theory, the prediction of the existence of the blood-brain barrier and its confirmation 70 years later, the discovery of superconductivity and its explanation 60 years later, the use of the uncertainty principle by physicists to estimate magnitudes of particles and duration, the existence of atoms and sub-atomic particles, and the explanatory power of the DNA double helix. Knowing Things for Sure also cites and critiques numerous philosophies from philosophers such as Aristotle, Comte, Mach, Reichenbach, Carnap, and Popper.

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9780761835110

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The author's considerable knowledge of physics, and in general of the history of science, allows him to illustrate his arguments with examples taken from important works It is clear, I think, from these few selections, that the author seeks to write with balance and fairness, taking into account the contributions of a variety of viewpoints and interests This is only a glimpse of the contents of a work that merits careful reading by anyone with an interest in science--Dr. James Kelly

Author Information

Mariano Artigas is a full Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. A celebrated scholar, Artigas received a Ph.D. in Physics and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Barcelona. He is an accomplished author with more than 15 books published, including the original Spanish version of Knowing Things for Sure (Filosofía de la Ciencia Experimental). Translator Alan McCone, Jr. has 25 years of experience in scientific research and currently is the principle investigator into the foundations of physics at the Occidental Science Institute in San Francisco, California. He holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maryland.

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