Exploring the Scientific Method: Cases and Questions

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Contents Introduction How to Use This Book Syntactic View of Theories Deductivism Aristotle - from Posterior Analytics and Physics René Descartes - from Discourse on Method Case Studies Inductivism Francis Bacon - from Novum Organum Isaac Newton - from Principia John Stuart Mill - from A System of Logic Case Studies Hypothetico-Deductivism William Whewell - from Novum Organum Renovatum Rudolf Carnap - “Theoretical Procedures in Science” R. B. Braithwaite - from Scientific Explanation Paradoxes of Evidence David Hume - from Enquiry Nelson Goodman - from Fact, Fiction, and Forecast Carl G. Hempel - from “Studies in the Logic of Confi rmation” Responses to the Paradoxes of Evidence Falsificationism Karl Popper - from The Logic of Scientific Discovery Case Studies Holistic View of Theories Pierre Duhem - from Aim and Structure of Physical Theory Thomas Kuhn - from The Structure of Scientific Revolutions Imre Lakatos - The Methodology of Research Programmes Case Studies Semantic View of Theories Marshall Spector - “Models and Theories” Max Black - “Models and Archetypes” Ronald Giere - from Explaining Science Case Studies Critical Views of Scientific Theories Paul Feyerabend - from Against Method Ruth Hubbard - “Science, Facts, and Feminism” Bruno Latour - “The Science Wars: A Dialogue” Case Studies Closing Remarks Deductivism Case Study Readings Astronomy: Aristotle, from On the Heavens Physics: Epicurus, from Letter to Herodotus Chemistry: Paracelsus, from Hermetic and Alchemical Writings Genetics: Aristotle, from On the Generation of Animals Evolutionary Biology: Aristotle, from On the Generation of Animals Geology: John Woodward, from An Essay towards a Natural History of the Earth Psychology: Hippocrates, from The Nature of Man, The Sacred Disease Sociology: Thomas Hobbes, from Leviathan Economics: Aristotle, from Politics Inductivism Case Study Readings Astronomy: Ptolemy, from Almagest Physics: James Clerk Maxwell, from “Molecules” Chemistry: Robert Boyle, from The Skeptical Chymist Genetics: Gregor Mendel, from Experiments in Plant Hybridization Evolutionary Biology: Carolus Linnaeus, from Systema Naturae Geology: James Hutton, from “System of the Earth” Psychology: Heinrich Weber, from “The Sense of Touch and the Common Feeling” Sociology: Émile Durkheim, from Suicide Economics: François Quesnay, from “Farmers” Bibliography Index