Ian Hacking Books

This book showcases Ian Hacking's early ideas on the philosophical issues surrounding statistical reasoning.

The book explores the surge in diagnosed dissociative disorders, particularly multiple personality disorder (MPD), over the past twenty-five years, linking it to the prevalence of child sexual abuse. Philosopher Ian Hacking examines the moral and political implications of this epidemic, addressing the contentious debates around memory and the potential for false memories. Through this lens, he critically analyzes how society grapples with psychological trauma and the power dynamics involved in understanding and treating these complex issues.

This book combines detailed scientific historical research with characteristic philosophic breadth and verve.

Modern philosophy of science has paid great attention to the understanding of scientific ‘practice’, in contrast to concentration on scientific ‘method’. Paul Feyerabend’s acclaimed work, which has contributed greatly to this new emphasis, shows the deficiencies of some widespread ideas about the nature of knowledge. He argues that the only feasible explanations of scientific successes are historical explanations, and that anarchism must now replace rationalism in the theory of knowledge.The third edition of this classic text contains a new preface and additional reflections at various points in which the author takes account both of recent debates on science and on the impact of scientific products and practices on the human community. While disavowing populism or relativism, Feyerabend continues to insist that the voice of the inexpert must be heard. Thus many environmental perils were first identified by non-experts against prevailing assumptions in the scientific community. Feyerabend’s challenging reassessment of scientific claims and understandings are as pungent and timely as ever.

Includes an introduction, contextualizing his book in light of developing philosophical trends.

Thomas S. Kuhn's classic book is now available with a new index.   "A landmark in intellectual history which has attracted attention far beyond its own immediate field. . . . It is written with a combination of depth and clarity that make it an almost unbroken series of aphorisms. . . . Kuhn does not permit truth to be a criterion of scientific theories, he would presumably not claim his own theory to be true. But if causing a revolution is the hallmark of a superior paradigm, [this book] has been a resounding success." —Nicholas Wade, Science   "Perhaps the best explanation of [the] process of discovery." —William Erwin Thompson, New York Times Book Review   "Occasionally there emerges a book which has an influence far beyond its originally intended audience. . . . Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions . . . has clearly emerged as just such a work." —Ron Johnston, Times Higher Education Supplement   "Among the most influential academic books in this century." — Choice   One of "The Hundred Most Influential Books Since the Second World War," Times Literary Supplement  

Often lost in the debate over the validity of social construction is the question of what is being constructed. Ian Hacking looks at the issue of child abuse, and examines the ways in which advanced research on new weapons influences not the content but the form of science. schovat popis

'Sozialer Konstruktivismus' ist en vogue. Man muß nur die Verzeichnisse der theoretisch ambitionierten Neuerscheinungen in den Sozialwissenschaften durchblättern, um sich davon zu überzeugen. Und die 'science wars' führen vor, daß die Debatten über die 'soziale Konstruiertheit' von Theorien und Fakten auch die Naturwissenschaften erreicht haben. Grund genug also, sich angesichts der erhitzten Diskussionen einmal die Frage vorzulegen, was eigentlich mit Äußerungen der Form 'X ist sozial konstruiert' überhaupt behauptet wird. Ian Hacking, Philosoph und Wissenschaftstheoretiker, hat sich dieser Frage angenommen und eine ebenso nüchterne wie erhellende Analyse der von 'Konstruktionisten' auf den verschiedensten Gebieten erhobenen Ansprüche vorgelegt.

Ein Buch für Philosophen und Wissenschaftler, dessen erster Teil (»Darstellen«) die wesentlichen wissenschaftstheoretischen Grundlagen und Ansätze behandelt (Objektivität, Realismus, Positivismus, Pragmatismus u. a.). Der zweite Teil (»Eingreifen«) bietet eine Einführung in die philosophischen Probleme des Experiments und der Beobachtung mit vielen Fallbeispielen aus Physik, Biologie, Chemie. Es zeigt sich, daß Experiment und Theorie voneinander unabhängig sein können. Das hat Folgen für ein adäquates Verständnis des wissenschaftlichen Realismus.

La obra de Ian Hacking explora la revolución científica actual, que transforma la comprensión de la naturaleza y desafía principios clásicos. Analiza la evolución de la estadística entre la Revolución Industrial y Francesa, y su impacto en la normalidad y anormalidad. Concluye con un análisis de C.S. Peirce y su influencia en el estudio del caos.