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ENGLISH

Fruitfulness - Science, Metaphor, And The Puzzle Of Promise

by Chris Haufe

25,39€ + 10% CARD

 Some ideas seem to possess a disproportionate ability to lead to new insights, new discoveries, new ideas, and even entirely new ways of thinking. Such ideas are said to be fruitful. Looking across the history of science and mathematics, we see creative minds preoccupied with the search for ideas of this kind. More precious than truth, but far less plentiful, fruitful ideas provide those in pursuit of knowledge with a seemingly bottomless well of innovation from which to draw as they attempt to solve new problems and to refine solutions to old ones. Seasoned researchers have a nose for these ideas. They often know in an instant that some way of approaching a problem will eventually result in a solution to it and to a whole host of other problems, all of which suddenly seem related. In Fruitfulness, Chris Haufe explains how these ideas are detected and developed into large-scale frameworks for research. He argues for a philosophical perspective on scientific knowledge that places the search for fruitfulness at the heart of the scientific enterprise. This perspective demands a fundamental shift in our thinking about scientific theories, conceiving of them as metaphors to facilitate research instead of increasingly correct descriptions of nature.
ENGLISH

Fruitfulness - Science, Metaphor, And The Puzzle Of Promise

by Chris Haufe

25,39€ + 10% CARD

 Some ideas seem to possess a disproportionate ability to lead to new insights, new discoveries, new ideas, and even entirely new ways of thinking. Such ideas are said to be fruitful. Looking across the history of science and mathematics, we see creative minds preoccupied with the search for ideas of this kind. More precious than truth, but far less plentiful, fruitful ideas provide those in pursuit of knowledge with a seemingly bottomless well of innovation from which to draw as they attempt to solve new problems and to refine solutions to old ones. Seasoned researchers have a nose for these ideas. They often know in an instant that some way of approaching a problem will eventually result in a solution to it and to a whole host of other problems, all of which suddenly seem related. In Fruitfulness, Chris Haufe explains how these ideas are detected and developed into large-scale frameworks for research. He argues for a philosophical perspective on scientific knowledge that places the search for fruitfulness at the heart of the scientific enterprise. This perspective demands a fundamental shift in our thinking about scientific theories, conceiving of them as metaphors to facilitate research instead of increasingly correct descriptions of nature.
ENGLISH

Perspectival Realism

by Michela Massimi

84,79€ + 10% CARD

 What does it mean to be a realist about science if one takes seriously the view that scientific knowledge is always perspectival, namely historically and culturally situated? In Perspectival Realism, Michela Massimi explores how scientific knowledge grows and evolves thanks to a plurality of epistemic communities occupying a number of scientific perspectives. The result is a philosophical view that goes under the name of "perspectival realism", and it offersa new lens for thinking about scientific knowledge, realism and pluralism in science.
ENGLISH

Perspectival Realism

by Michela Massimi

81,71€ + 10% CARD

 What does it mean to be a realist about science if one takes seriously the view that scientific knowledge is always perspectival, namely historically and culturally situated? In Perspectival Realism, Michela Massimi explores how scientific knowledge grows and evolves thanks to a plurality of epistemic communities occupying a number of scientific perspectives. The result is a philosophical view that goes under the name of "perspectival realism", and it offersa new lens for thinking about scientific knowledge, realism and pluralism in science.
ENGLISH

Nature Of Physical Computation

by Oron Shagrir

63,59€ + 10% CARD

 Computing systems are ubiquitous in contemporary life. Even the brain is thought to be a computing system of sorts. But what does it mean to say that an organ or a system computes? What is it about laptops, smartphones, and nervous systems that they are deemed to compute?and why does it seldom occur to us to describe stomachs, hurricanes, rocks, or chairs that way? These questions are key to the conceptual foundations of computational sciences, including computer science and engineering, and the cognitive and neural sciences. Oron Shagrir here provides an extended argument for the semantic view of computation, which states that semantic properties are involved in the nature of computing systems. The first part of the book provides general background. Although different in scope, these chapters have a common theme?that the linkage between the mathematical theory of computability and the notion of physical computation is weak. The second part of the book reviews existing non-semantic accounts of physical computation. Shagrir offers an in-depth analysis of three influential accounts, and argues that none of these accounts is satisfactory, but each of them highlights certain key features of physical computation that he eventually entwines into his own account of computation. The last part of the book presents and defends an original semantic account of physical computation, with a phenomenon known as ''simultaneous implementation'' (or ''indeterminacy of computation'') at its core.
ENGLISH

Nature Of Physical Computation

by Oron Shagrir

55,64€ + 10% CARD

 Computing systems are ubiquitous in contemporary life. Even the brain is thought to be a computing system of sorts. But what does it mean to say that an organ or a system computes? What is it about laptops, smartphones, and nervous systems that they are deemed to compute?and why does it seldom occur to us to describe stomachs, hurricanes, rocks, or chairs that way? These questions are key to the conceptual foundations of computational sciences, including computer science and engineering, and the cognitive and neural sciences. Oron Shagrir here provides an extended argument for the semantic view of computation, which states that semantic properties are involved in the nature of computing systems. The first part of the book provides general background. Although different in scope, these chapters have a common theme?that the linkage between the mathematical theory of computability and the notion of physical computation is weak. The second part of the book reviews existing non-semantic accounts of physical computation. Shagrir offers an in-depth analysis of three influential accounts, and argues that none of these accounts is satisfactory, but each of them highlights certain key features of physical computation that he eventually entwines into his own account of computation. The last part of the book presents and defends an original semantic account of physical computation, with a phenomenon known as ''simultaneous implementation'' (or ''indeterminacy of computation'') at its core.
ENGLISH

Brownian Motion And Molecular Reality

by George E. Smith e Raghav Seth

84,79€ + 10% CARD

 Between 1905 and 1913, French physicist Jean Perrin''s experiments on Brownian motion ostensibly put a definitive end to the long debate regarding the real existence of molecules, proving the atomic theory of matter. While Perrin''s results had a significant impact at the time, later examination of his experiments questioned whether he really gained experimental access to the molecular realm. The experiments were successful in determining the mean kinetic energy of the granules of Brownian motion; however, the values for molecular magnitudes Perrin inferred from them simply presupposed that the granule mean kinetic energy was the same as the mean molecular kinetic energy in the fluid in which the granules move. This stipulation became increasingly questionable in the years between 1908 and 1913, as significantly lower values for these magnitudes were obtained from other experimental results like alpha-particle emissions, ionization, and Planck''s blackbody radiation equation.In this case study in the history and philosophy of science, George E. Smith and Raghav Seth here argue that despite doubts, Perrin''s measurements were nevertheless exemplars of theory-mediated measurement-the practice of obtaining values for an inaccessible quantity by inferring them from an accessible proxy via theoretical relationships between them. They argue that it was actually Perrin more than any of his contemporaries who championed this approach during the years in question. The practice of theory-mediated measurement in physics had a long history before 1900, but the concerted efforts of Perrin, Rutherford, Millikan, Planck, and their colleagues led to the central role this form of evidence has had in microphysical research ever since. Seth and Smith''s study thus replaces an untenable legend with an account that is not only tenable, but more instructive about what the evidence did and did not show.
ENGLISH

Causation With A Human Face - Normative Theory And Descriptive Psychology

by James Woodward

84,79€ + 10% CARD

 The past few decades have seen an explosion of research on causal reasoning in philosophy, computer science, and statistics, as well as descriptive work in psychology. In Causation with a Human Face, James Woodward integrates these lines of research and argues for an understanding of how each can inform the other: normative ideas can suggest interesting experiments, while descriptive results can suggest important normative concepts. Woodward''s overall framework builds on the interventionist treatment of causation that he developed in Making Things Happen. Normative ideas discussed include proposals about the role of invariant or stable relationships in successful causal reasoning and the notion of proportionality. He argues that these normative ideas are reflected in the causal judgments that people actually make as a descriptive matter. Woodward also discusses the common philosophical practice-particularly salient in philosophical accounts of causation--of appealing to "intuitions" or "judgments about cases" in support of philosophical theses. He explores how, properly understood, such appeals are not different in principle from appeals to results from empirical research, and demonstrates how they may serve as a useful source of information about causal cognition.
ENGLISH

Causation With A Human Face - Normative Theory And Descriptive Psychology

by James Woodward

84,79€ + 10% CARD

 The past few decades have seen an explosion of research on causal reasoning in philosophy, computer science, and statistics, as well as descriptive work in psychology. In Causation with a Human Face, James Woodward integrates these lines of research and argues for an understanding of how each can inform the other: normative ideas can suggest interesting experiments, while descriptive results can suggest important normative concepts. Woodward''s overall framework builds on the interventionist treatment of causation that he developed in Making Things Happen. Normative ideas discussed include proposals about the role of invariant or stable relationships in successful causal reasoning and the notion of proportionality. He argues that these normative ideas are reflected in the causal judgments that people actually make as a descriptive matter. Woodward also discusses the common philosophical practice-particularly salient in philosophical accounts of causation--of appealing to "intuitions" or "judgments about cases" in support of philosophical theses. He explores how, properly understood, such appeals are not different in principle from appeals to results from empirical research, and demonstrates how they may serve as a useful source of information about causal cognition.
ENGLISH

Chance In The World - A Humean Guide To Objective Chance

by Carl Hoefer

71,54€ + 10% CARD

 This book explains how we can understand objective chance (or objective probability) in a metaphysically neutral way, as reducible to certain patterns that can be discerned in the actual events of our world.
ENGLISH

Chance In The World - A Humean Guide To Objective Chance

by Carl Hoefer

71,54€ + 10% CARD

 This book explains how we can understand objective chance (or objective probability) in a metaphysically neutral way, as reducible to certain patterns that can be discerned in the actual events of our world.
ENGLISH

Understanding Scientific Understanding

by Henk W. De Regt

34,44€ + 10% CARD

 Understanding is a central aim of science and highly important in present-day society. But what precisely is scientific understanding and how can it be achieved? This book answers these questions, through philosophical analysis and historical case studies, and presents a philosophical theory of scientific understanding that highlights its contextual nature.
ENGLISH

Understanding Scientific Understanding

by Henk W. De Regt

34,44€ + 10% CARD

 Understanding is a central aim of science and highly important in present-day society. But what precisely is scientific understanding and how can it be achieved? This book answers these questions, through philosophical analysis and historical case studies, and presents a philosophical theory of scientific understanding that highlights its contextual nature.
ENGLISH

Philosophy Of Science: A Companion - A Companion

92,74€ + 10% CARD

 Philosophy of science studies the methods, theories and concepts used by scientists. This book addresses both general philosophy of science and specific questions raised by logic, mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, cognitive science, linguistics, social sciences, and economics.
ENGLISH

Philosophy Of Science: A Companion - A Companion

92,74€ + 10% CARD

 Philosophy of science studies the methods, theories and concepts used by scientists. This book addresses both general philosophy of science and specific questions raised by logic, mathematics, physics, biology, medicine, cognitive science, linguistics, social sciences, and economics.
ENGLISH

Calculated Surprises - A Philosophy Of Computer Simulation

by Johannes Lenhard

71,54€ + 10% CARD

 Simulation modeling, the core thesis of Calculated Surprises, is transforming the established conception of mathematical modeling in fundamental ways. These transformations feed back into philosophy of science, opening up new perspectives on longstanding oppositions. The book integrates historical features with both practical case studies and broad reflections on science and technology.
ENGLISH

Calculated Surprises - A Philosophy Of Computer Simulation

by Johannes Lenhard

71,54€ + 10% CARD

 Simulation modeling, the core thesis of Calculated Surprises, is transforming the established conception of mathematical modeling in fundamental ways. These transformations feed back into philosophy of science, opening up new perspectives on longstanding oppositions. The book integrates historical features with both practical case studies and broad reflections on science and technology.
ENGLISH

Scientific Ontology - Integrating Naturalized Metaphysics And Voluntarist Epistemology

by Anjan Chakravartty

30,46€ + 10% CARD

 Though science and philosophy take different approaches to ontology, metaphysical inferences are relevant to interpreting scientific work, and empirical investigations are relevant to philosophy. This book argues that there is no uniquely rational way to determine which domains of ontology are appropriate for belief, making room for choice in a transformative account of scientific ontology.
ENGLISH

Because Without Cause - Non-Casual Explanations In Science And Mathematics

by Marc Lange

38,41€ + 10% CARD

 Not all scientific explanations work by describing causal connections between events or the world's overall causal structure. In addition, mathematicians regard some proofs as explaining why the theorems being proved do in fact hold. This book proposes new philosophical accounts of many kinds of non-causal explanations in science and mathematics.
ENGLISH

Reign Of Relativity - Philosophy In Physics 1915-1925

by Thomas Ryckman

33,11€ + 10% CARD

 Universally recognized as bringing about a transformation of the notions of space, time, and motion in physics, Einstein's theory of gravitation, known as "general relativity," was also a defining event for 20th century philosophy of science. This book looks at the argument that the path actually taken contributed to the impasse over realism.
ENGLISH

Science And Partial Truth - A Unitary Approach To Models And Scientific Reasoning

by Newton C. A. Da Costa e Steven French

67,56€ + 10% CARD

 Da Costa and French explore the consequences of adopting a 'pragmatic' notion of truth in the philosophy of science. Their framework sheds new light on issues to do with belief, theory acceptance, and the realism-antirealism debate, as well as the nature of scientific models and their heuristic development.
ENGLISH

Making Things Happen - A Theory Of Causal Explanation

by James Woodward

38,41€ + 10% CARD

 Constructs a comprehensive account of causation explanation that applies to a variety of causal and explanatory claims in different areas of science and everyday life. This book weaves together examples, counterexamples, criticisms, defences, and objections.
ENGLISH

Inconsistency, Asymmetry, And Non-Locality - A Philosophical Investigation Of Classical Electrodynamics

by Mathias Frisch

71,54€ + 10% CARD

 Designed to show that classical physics, while successful in describing phenomena, has interesting conceptual problems worth discussing. This book also views that electrodynamics leaves out some aspects of scientific theorizing, namely that the notion that consistency is over-valued, and that an inconsistent theory can still be successful.
ENGLISH

Ant Trap - Rebuilding The Foundations Of The Social Sciences

by Brian Epstein

30,46€ + 10% CARD

 In The Ant Trap, Brian Epstein rewrites our understanding of the nature of the social world and the foundations of the social sciences. He develops a new model of the social world, and shows that the actions and intentions of social groups often depend on more than their members.
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