The Metaphysics of Science: An Account of Modern Science in Terms of Principles, Laws and Theories

1402038372......Page 1
CONTENTS......Page 6
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION......Page 11
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION......Page 13
INTRODUCTION......Page 15
1. EMPIRICISM VS. REALISM – THE PERENNIAL DEBATE IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE......Page 23
2. FUNDAMENTAL AND REFINED PRINCIPLES: THE CORE OF MODERN SCIENCE......Page 63
1. Three Principles Central to Modern Science......Page 67
2. Refinements of the Principles in Science......Page 76
3. Four Ways Principles Function with Respect to Science......Page 79
4. On the Epistemological Status of the Principles of Science......Page 85
3. EMPIRICAL LAWS: THE SUPERVENTION OF EXPERIENCE......Page 87
1. The Uniformity Principle and Empirical Laws......Page 88
2. The Substance Principle and Empirical Systems......Page 93
3. Continuity......Page 95
4. Necessity and Universality......Page 96
5. Discovery, Prediction and Technology......Page 97
6. The Supervention of Experience......Page 99
7. Empirical Laws Require Explanation......Page 108
4. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES: CLOSING THE CIRCLE......Page 109
1. Theoretical Reduction and the Closing of the Circle......Page 110
2. The Substance Principle and Theoretical Ontologies......Page 111
3. The Causality Principle and Causal Mechanisms......Page 113
4. The Hypothetical Aspect of Theories......Page 116
5. Explanation, Understanding and the Limits of Intelligibility......Page 118
1. Theoretical Models, Source-Analogues and Abstraction......Page 123
2. The Substantial, Formal and Causal Aspects of a Theoretical Model......Page 127
3. Theoretical Systems and the Derivation of Empirical Laws......Page 129
4. Theoretical Models Can Suggest Experiments But Do Not Determine Their Results......Page 134
5. The Nominal vs. the Real Aspect of the Subject......Page 136
6. Idealisation......Page 137
7. Explanation vs. Prediction......Page 141
6. THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: A CONSIDERATION OF ECONOMICS......Page 144
1. The Principles of Rationality and Equilibrium......Page 145
2. The Empirical Facts of Economics......Page 148
3. Economic Models Are Theories......Page 150
4. The Substantial, Causal and Formal Aspects of Economic Models......Page 152
5. Intentional Constructs and Empathetic Understanding......Page 154
6. The Source and Subject of Economic Models......Page 157
7. Abstraction and Idealisation......Page 159
1. What Are Natural Kinds for Modern Science?......Page 162
2. Nominal and Real Essences: Key to the Understanding of Natural Kinds......Page 165
3. Natural Kinds in Biology......Page 167
4. On Identifying Natural Kinds......Page 171
5. Sets, Classes, Individuals and Natural Kinds......Page 177
6. On Difference of Level and the Epistemological Status of Attributions of Nominal and Real Essence......Page 180
1. General Considerations Regarding Probability......Page 184
2. Two Senses of the Word “Confirm”......Page 185
3. Evidential Basis vs. Subject-Matter......Page 186
4. Methodological Grounds and Inductive Probability......Page 187
5. Subjective Probability and the Implications of a Probability Claim......Page 188
6. Knowledge-Relativity and the Propensity Interpretation......Page 189
7. Nominal vs. Real Probability Determinations......Page 190
8. Methodological Requirements of Probability Locutions......Page 192
9. On the Acceptability of Scientific Theories......Page 193
10. On the Confirmation of Experimental Laws......Page 194
11. On the Applicability of Scientific Principles......Page 195
1. The Historical Debate......Page 197
2. The Supervention of Experience......Page 200
3. Ontology vs. Epistemology......Page 202
4. Understanding vs. Knowledge......Page 205
1. A Particular Enterprise Emanating from Particular Principles......Page 207
2. The Revolution from Mythopoeic Thought......Page 208
3. Three Streams in Greek Thought......Page 210
4. Christianity, Platonism, Aristotelianism and the Scientific Revolution......Page 212
5. Intellectual and Practical Successes and Problems......Page 217
6. What Next?......Page 220
APPENDIX I. THE VICIOUS CIRCLE PRINCIPLE OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT......Page 223
1. The Vicious Circle Principle......Page 224
2. Application and Corroboration......Page 235
3. Conclusion......Page 254
APPENDIX II. THE DEMARCATION OF MODERN SCIENCE FROM MAGIC, ASTROLOGY, CHINESE MEDICINE AND PARAPSYCHOLOGY......Page 255
1. Magic......Page 256
2. Astrology......Page 262
3. Chinese Medicine......Page 265
4. Parapsychology......Page 267
5. Metaphysics and Worldviews......Page 274
6. Historical Development of the Non-Physical......Page 275
7. Modern Science and the Spirit......Page 279
8. The Physical vs. the Spiritual......Page 280
9. Conclusion......Page 283
APPENDIX III. REPLY TO CRITICISM......Page 284
1. The Deductive Model......Page 286
2. The Perspectivist Conception......Page 288
3. Principles......Page 294
4. Realism vs. Empiricism......Page 301
5. Understanding vs. Knowledge......Page 303
6. The PTL Model of Scientific Explanation......Page 304
7. Quantum Mechanics......Page 307
8. Conclusion......Page 312
REFERENCES......Page 314
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C......Page 334
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H......Page 337
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L......Page 339
M......Page 340
P......Page 341
R......Page 343
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T......Page 345
W......Page 346
Z......Page 347