Philosophies of the Sciences: A Guide

Philosophies of the Sciences is a collection of 12 original essays by leading philosophers associated with various scientific disciplines. Recognizing that much current research within the philosophy of science takes place through the lens of one particular science, this volume proposes that the various scientific fields and investigations have much that they can learn from one another. Rather than discussing each science in isolation, they are presented here collectively to encourage a greater understanding of their associative theoretical foundations and a sharing of ideas.

The contributors deal with a wide range of scientific disciplines, covering the central debates in the areas of traditional philosophy of science, such as philosophy of physics and of biology, and also fields outside of the traditional mainstream, such as philosophies of psychology, sociology, chemistry, economics, and other individual sciences. An introductory essay covering philosophies of the sciences more generally is included as a background to the subject; the book then moves beyond general methodological issues to offer a new and unique approach to the study and thought of philosophy of science. As such, it is a valuable text for courses at the undergraduate or graduate level and for researchers in these and related fields.

Notes on Contributors.

Unit 1: Introduction.

1. Philosophies of the Sciences (Fritz Allhoff, Western Michigan University).

2. Philosophy of Science (Richard DeWitt, University of California, San Diego).

Unit 2: Philosophy of the Exact Sciences.

3. Philosophy of Logic (Otávio Bueno, University of Miami).

4. Philosophy of Mathematics (Otávio Bueno, University of Miami).

5. Philosophy of Probability (Aidan Lyon, The Australian National University).

Unit 3: Philosophy of the Natural Sciences.

6. Philosophy of Physics (Richard DeWitt, Fairfield University).

7. Philosophy of Chemistry (Joachim Schummer, University of Darmstadt).

8. Philosophy of Biology (Matthew H. Haber, University of Utah, Andrew Hamilton, Arizona State University, Samir Okasha, University of Bristol, and Jay Odenbaugh, Lewis and Clark College).

9. Philosophy of the Earth Sciences (Maarten G. Kleinhans, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands, Chris J.J. Buskes, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and Henk W. de Regt, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

Unit 4: Philosophy of the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

10. Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences (William Bechtel, University of California, San Diego and Mitchell Herschbach, University of California, San Diego).

11. Philosophy of Psychology (Edouard Machery, University of Pittsburgh).

12. Philosophy of Sociology (Daniel Little, University of Michigan, Dearborn).

13. Philosophy of Economics (Daniel M. Hausman, University of Wisconsin, Madison).

Fritz Allhoff is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Western Michigan University, where he also holds an affiliation with the Mallinson Institute for Science Education. He has edited over 20 books, including Philosophy of Science: An Historical Anthology, co–edited with Timothy McGrew and Marc Alspector–Kelly (Wiley–Blackwell, 2009).

"To summarize, Philosophies of the Sciences is a collection of clearly written, very informative, high–quality chapters that provide readers with good samples of what the philosophies of the various sciences have to offer." (Acta Biotheoretica, 2011)