What is Philosophy of Science?

Dean Rickles is Professor of History and Philosophy of Modern Physics at the University of Sydney.

�'An enjoyable and lively introduction to central issues within general philosophy of science. The book is 'written for the absolute beginner' (xi) and lives up to the billing. The writing is clear and accessible. Explanations are balanced, neither superficial nor weighed down by excessive jargon and detail. This economy of style enables Rickles to cover an impressive amount of material, given its length. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning what philosophy of science is, and I am confident that instructors of relevant courses will find the book useful.�Metascience �A wonderfully accessible picture of what philosophers are trying to understand about science – about the nature of scientific reasoning and theories, what makes them special, and how they represent the world. Rickles� pithy introduction is fun, direct, extensive, and captivating.�Anjan Chakravartty, University of Miami�This engagingly written introduction gives a fresh voice to traditional, and essential, topics in the philosophy of science. It is perfectly pitched at the complete beginner, requires no prior philosophical training, and will be a wonderful resource both inside and outside the classroom.�Eleanor Knox, King�s College London�Dean Rickles rightly notes that philosophy of science puts science under the microscope. Well, in his own fine What is Philosophy of Science?, Rickles manages to put philosophy of science itself under the magnifying glass. Written for the uninitiated, the book succeeds in making major philosophical views and arguments concerning science accessible to the novice, offering the necessary conceptual tools for a more in depth study of the subject.�Stathis Psillos, University of Athens

• Preface 1 Philosophy, Science, and History2 Logic and Philosophy of Science3 Demarcation and the Scientific Method4 The Nature of Scientific Theories Index