Alan Chalmers is a pivotal figure in the philosophy of science, challenging readers to critically examine the very foundations of scientific inquiry. His work dissects the nature of scientific knowledge, the methods employed by scientists, and the complex relationship between theory and observation. Chalmers's accessible yet rigorous approach invites a deeper understanding of how scientific understanding evolves and what distinguishes genuine scientific progress.
The book presents a thorough and well-researched history of atomic theory, tracing its evolution from Democritus to the twentieth century. The author combines his own scholarly findings with those of other researchers, providing a detailed examination of the development of atomic concepts over time. This comprehensive approach challenges readers to engage with the complexities of scientific thought regarding the atom.
This book presents a comprehensive history of atomic theories from Democritus to the twentieth century, examining the distinction between scientific and philosophical knowledge. It challenges conventional views in the history of science and is essential for students and scholars in the History and Philosophy of Science.
This monograph explores the evolution of hydrostatics as a science, illuminating its origins during the Scientific Revolution. It highlights how the history of hydrostatics showcases the distinct nature of seventeenth-century science compared to earlier periods, particularly through new insights into the concept of pressure. Key figures such as Simon Stevin, Pascal, Boyle, and Newton contributed to this understanding, while Galileo and Descartes failed to recognize the necessity of a new pressure conception, rendering their contributions less impactful. The narrative culminates with Newton, whose formulation of hydrostatics established a modern framework by articulating a technical notion of pressure. He favored a mathematical approach over experimental methods, and this preference reveals the interplay between mathematization and experimentation in the scientific advancements of the time. The book exemplifies the significant conceptual shifts that new sciences often demand, making it relevant for those studying the history and philosophy of science, as well as physicists and general readers with an interest in the subject.
In Grenzen der Wissenschaft stellt sich Alan Chalmers einer aktuellen wissenschaftstheoretischen Kontroverse zur Frage, wieweit Wissenschaft auf universellen, ahistorischen Maßstäben und Methoden beruht. Chalmers setzt sich dabei sowohl mit Vertretern des Positivismus und Falsifikationismus auseinander, die Wissenschaftlichkeit an universellen und ahistorischen Maßstäben messen, als auch mit neueren, relativistischen Ansätzen der Wissenschaftstheorie und -soziologie, nach denen nicht-wissenschaftliche, ökonomische, gesellschaftliche und politische Aspekte für die Akzeptanz wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse bedeutsamer sind als die Kriterien der Wissenschaftlichkeit selbst. In kritischer Abgrenzung zu diesen Ansätzen und unter Bezugnahme auf historische Beispiele legt Chalmers seine eigene Position dar, mit der er Wissenschaft als objektive Erkenntnis verteidigt.
