Philosophy of Science

This textbook is a comprehensive, engaging, and user-friendly introduction to philosophy of science written by a philosopher and a scientist. By exploring traditional debates within philosophy of science, as well as analysing contemporary scientific controversies for philosophical bias, the reader is invited to reflect upon how philosophical assumptions influence scientific theory, methods, and practice.

 Key features:

• Is an accessible introduction to philosophy of science written by a philosopher and a scientist.
• Includes some of the many important contributions from women philosophers and scientists.
• Demonstrates the philosophical influences on scientific thinking, practice, and expert disagreement.
• Applies philosophy of science to analyse some specific real-life cases of scientific controversy.

 This book is an essential resource for students and teachers in philosophy of science. It is also ideal for anyone interested in the philosophical influences on contemporary science.

Part I: What’s so special about science? Defining science.- 1. What counts as scientific knowledge?.- 2. Should science be defined by its methodology?.- 3. Is science defined by its community?.- 4. Is science defined by power?.- Part II: Why science cannot ignore philosophy; Philosophical bias in science.- 5. Conflicting evidence and the bias that science cannot avoid.- 6. Does science uncover or construct truths?; Bias about observation.- 7. Understanding and analysing complexity; Bias about processes and things.- 8. Scientific methods and causal evidencing; Bias about causality.- 9. Defining and assessing risk; Bias about values and probability.- Part III: What then when experts disagree?; Applying philosophy to scientific controversy.- 10. Philosophical analysis of some cases of disagreement.

Rani Lill Anjum is a Research Professor of Philosophy at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Elena Rocca is Associate Professor at the Department of Life Sciences and Health at Oslo Metropolitan University.