Overview

In a time when the role of science in society is under threat, this book provides a timely and accessible text that can be used to learn or teach both the theory and practices of science, and how they are interconnected. The first chapters introduce the major approaches to the philosophy of science using simple language and examples that are easy to understand. The chapters that follow build on philosophy of science to explain science practices such as publication, bibliometrics, experiments, the use of statistics, research ethics, and the academic career. The book emphasizes how and why science is the most reliable source of knowledge and how society is dependent on science to make informed decisions. It primarily targets science students but is also accessible to general readers interested in understanding how science works. It is ideal as a textbook for intermediate-advanced students majoring in any science (or engineering) subject.

Full Product Details

Author:   Niklas Janz (Stockholm University) ,  Sören Nylin (Stockholm University)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Weight:   0.500kg
ISBN:  

9781009672894

ISBN 10:   1009672894
Pages:   166
Publication Date:   19 February 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon it's release. This is a print on demand item which is still yet to be released.

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. What's so special about science?; 1.1 'I Could be wrong'; 1.2 Is there anything out there?; 1.3 Making the subjective objective; 1.4 Facts and theory; 1.5 'Follow the science'; 1.6 Understanding science; 2. Observation-driven science; 2.1 Mary's butterflies; 2.2 Early empiricism: Francis Bacon; 2.3 Later empiricism: the positivists; 2.4 The limitations of empiricism; 2.5 The place of empiricism in science; 3. Hypothesis-driven science: Falsificationism; 3.1 Mary's butterflies; 3.2 Karl Popper and falsificationism; 3.3 Mechanisms and change; 3.4 Ad hoc hypotheses; 4. Hypothesis-driven science: limitations and alternatives; 4.1 The limitations of hypothesis-testing; 4.2 The place of hypothesis-testing in science; 5. Paradigm-driven science; 5.1 Mary's butterflies; 5.2 The philosophy of paradigms: Thomas Kuhn; 5.3 The limitations of paradigms; 5.4 The place of paradigms in science; 6. Science as a social activity; 6.1 Mary's butterflies; 6.2 Public knowledge; 6.3 A social definition of science; 7. Synthesis; 7.1 What do you mean by 'science'?; 7.2 Search for consensus as a line of demarcation; 7.3 Being scientific; 7.4 The web of trust; 8. Science in practice: publishing; 8.1 The publication process; 8.2 Citations and impact factors: bibliometrics; 9. Science in practice: data; 9. 1 Scientific data in the light of philosophy; 9.2 Dealing with variation; 9.3 Reviews and meta-analyses; 9.4 Combining evidence: an example; 10. Science in practice: academia; 10.1 Academia and the competent researcher; 10.2 Academic freedom; 10.3 Funding; 10.4 Ethics in science; 10.5 Science outside of the academy; 11. Epilogue; Index; References.

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Author Information

Niklas Janz is a professor in evolutionary insect ecology at Stockholm University, Sweden. His research has mainly focussed on the evolutionary association between insects and plants. He has taught extensively on ecology, evolutionary biology, and the philosophy of science. He has also published two novels for young adults. Sören Nylin is a professor of animal ecology at Stockholm University, Sweden, where he also teaches theoretical and practical aspects of science. He has published a large number of scientific articles, primarily on insect evolutionary ecology, and is an elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

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