Philosophy of Science

This volume is based on the lectures given in The Royal Institute of Philosophy’s annual lecture series in London for 2005–6. In it leading figures in the philosophy of science focus on key topics in the subject: realism, natural kinds, scientific progress, the confirmation of theories and the notion of simplicity in theory evaluation, the use of models in science and the relation of physics and metaphysics. There are also discussions of action at a distance, of the relation of science to technology and of lessons from the history of science to the evaluation of university research today. Taken all in all the volume provides a snapshot of some of the liveliest debates in the philosophy of science today, and also to the ways in which issues in the philosophy of science are relevant to philosophy in the wider sense.

• Features contributions from leading figures in the philosophy of science • Provides a snapshot of some of the liveliest debates in the philosophy of science today • Analyses the ways in which issues in the philosophy of science are relevant

1. Scientific progress: beyond foundationalism and coherentism Hasok Chang; 2. Action at a distance Robin Le Poidevin; 3. Lessons from the history of philosophy of science regarding the research assessment exercise Donald Gillies; 4. The ravens revisited Peter Lipton; 5. What’s the point in scientific realism if we don’t know what’s really there? Sophie R. Allen; 6. Miracles and models: why reports of the death of structural realism may be exaggerated John Worrall; 7. Counter thought experiments James R. Brown; 8. Does physics answer metaphysical questions? James Ladyman; 9. Natural kinds: rosy dawn, scholastic twilight Ian Hacking; 10. Mundane technology, neutrality and autonomy James Garvey; 11. Is simplicity evidence of truth? Adolf Grunbaum.