Philosophy Of Science

Criteria of Empirical Significance: Foundations, Relations, Applications

by Sebastian Lutz

PhD thesis prepared at the Theoretical Philosophy Unit, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

This dissertation consists of three parts. Part I is a defense of an artificial language methodology in philosophy and... more This dissertation consists of three parts. Part I is a defense of an artificial language methodology in philosophy and a historical and systematic defense of the logical empiricists' application of an artificial language methodology to scientific theories. These defenses provide a justification for the presumptions of a host of criteria of empirical significance, which I analyze, compare, and develop in part II. On the basis of this analysis, in part III I use a variety of criteria to evaluate the scientific status of intelligent design, and further discuss confirmation, reduction, and concept formation.

Vision, Science and Literature, 1870-1920: Ocular Horizons (Pickering and Chatto, 2011)

by Martin Willis

Winner of the British Society for Literature and Science Book Prize 2011

My publisher, Pickering and Chatto, have made available the introduction to my recent book - which I share with you... more My publisher, Pickering and Chatto, have made available the introduction to my recent book - which I share with you here. The index is also available as a free file, and you can find that on the publisher's page for my book, which is:
http://www.pickeringchatto.com/monographs/vision_science_and_literature_1870_1920

Human Extension: Before and After Socio-Cultural Evolution

by Gregory Sandstrom

Published in accessible e-book format - available at major distributors, Amazon Kindle, Apple, Sony, Barnes and Noble, Diesel, Baker-Taylor, etc.

Evolution and creation explored with a sociological approach that helps to untangle science, philosophy &... more Evolution and creation explored with a sociological approach that helps to untangle science, philosophy & religion, ‘human extension’ provides an exciting opportunity to overcome the 20th century debates. This book offers hope for readers who are tired of creationism, reductionism and naturalistic intelligent design and who are ready for a healthy way forward. Welcome to the age of Human Extension!

Forschung in Theoretischer Archäologie: Interpretation der 'Sonderarchitektur' im Protoneolithikum als institutionalisierter Datenverarbeitungsraum.

by Metin Yesilyurt

Inaugural-Dissertation. Online first publ.: Publikations- und Archivierungsserver der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster [http://miami.uni-muenster.de]

«Research in Theoretical Archaeology: Interpretation of the special architecture in the Proto-Neolithic as... more «Research in Theoretical Archaeology: Interpretation of the special architecture in the Proto-Neolithic as institutionalized Data-Processing-Room»
The issue of this inquiry is the interpretation of the special architecture in the Proto-Neolithic (i. p. Göbekli Tepe) – this consequentially including also the interpretation in archaeology as a science in general.
Interpretation is an essential part and a constitutive problem of research in archaeology. This problem affects in particular the explanation of certain artefacts that have specifics going beyond the everyday live functionality and in accordance with the reduction of human reality to the opposites sacral – profane are assigned to the domain of religion.
In this inquiry the problem mentioned is treated by the interpretation of the special architecture of the Proto-Neolithic as the central element of one of the most important eras of human history. So far, on the basis of speculation about its inventory the architecture has been assigned to religion and interpreted as temple/sanctuary. Because of its speculative and esoteric character this religious interpretation is criticized and rejected here as unscientific. Facing the religious interpretation, a scientific interpretation is being developed in this thesis. Hereto the epistemological (Theory of Science/Philosophy of Science) foundations of research are clarified and a cross-disciplinary strategy for scientific interpretation constructed.
Based on these results, the special architecture is interpreted with references to the ‹Allgemeine Hermeneutik› and the universal personality traits of Homo sapiens as institutionalized data processing room – i. e. the developed theory explains the constructions meant as architecturally enhanced space of community, in which the problems concerning existence and subsistence of the people in Proto-Neolithic were worked up and solved through the inquiry of flora and fauna. Thus the theory claims that the images/signs on the stela are a spatial-material manifestation of knowledge of their creators, respectively the documentation of research accomplished (archive) in this architecture. Finally, a conception of a research program for future studies of the artifacts of "non-daily-live-type" takes place in the thesis.

Understanding Evolution: an Introduction to Concepts and Conceptual Obstacles

by Kostas Kampourakis

under contract with Cambridge University Press

The Idea of a religious social science

by Khosrow Bagheri Noaparast

In this book, the words ‘science’ and ‘social science’ are used in their limited sense that refer to experience-based... more In this book, the words ‘science’ and ‘social science’ are used in their limited sense that refer to experience-based knowledge. This should not indicate that experience is being used in a positivistic sense. Rather, the important insights of all kinds of post-positivist views are embraced to give an extensive meaning to experience. However, the most important characteristic of experience and science that should never be excluded is its dependence on observation and observational evidence.
Thus, when ‘science’ is used in combination with ‘religion’, it should not be confused by religious knowledge. The latter might refer to, perhaps, a certain kind of knowledge that could be found in religious texts and might be different from other kinds of knowledge. However, when the phrase of ‘religious science’ is used, it refers to a scientific knowledge, even though because of its religious presuppositions it is called religious. And this relation between religion and science is exactly the point that is at issue in this book.

Causality in the Sciences

by Federica Russo

Co-edited with Phyllis Illari and Jon Williamson

There is a need for integrated thinking about causality, probability and mechanisms in scientific methodology.... more There is a need for integrated thinking about causality, probability and mechanisms in scientific methodology. Causality and probability are long-established central concepts in the sciences, with a corresponding philosophical literature examining their problems. On the other hand, the philosophical literature examining mechanisms is not long-established, and there is no clear idea of how mechanisms relate to causality and probability. But we need some idea if we are to understand causal inference in the sciences: a panoply of disciplines, ranging from epidemiology to biology, from econometrics to physics, routinely make use of probability, statistics, theory and mechanisms to infer causal relationships.

These disciplines have developed very different methods, where causality and probability often seem to have different understandings, and where the mechanisms involved often look very different. This variegated situation raises the question of whether the different sciences are really using different concepts, or whether progress in understanding the tools of causal inference in some sciences can lead to progress in other sciences. The book tackles these questions as well as others concerning the use of causality in the sciences.

Causality and Probability in the Sciences

by Federica Russo

Co-edited with Jon Williamson

Causal inference is perhaps the most important form of reasoning in the sciences. A panoply of disciplines, ranging... more Causal inference is perhaps the most important form of reasoning in the sciences. A panoply of disciplines, ranging from epidemiology to biology, from econometrics to physics, make use of probability and statistics in order to infer causal relationships. However, the very foundations of causal inference are up in the air; it is by no means clear which methods of causal inference should be used, nor why they work when they do.

This book brings philosophers and scientists together to tackle these important questions. The papers in this volume shed light on the relationship between causality and probability and the application of these concepts within the sciences. With its interdisciplinary perspective and its careful analysis, Causality and probability in the sciences heralds the transition of causal inference from an art to a science.

Observing by Hand: Sketching the Nebulae in the 19th Century

by Omar W. Nasim

Manuscript Under Review at the Moment. But if you wish to read a couple of pages on what its all about, please download the two-page abstract. Feel free to leave comments or thoughts.

Discovery Across Scientists and Children

by Emanuele Serrelli

Pievani T, Sala M, Serrelli E (2012). La scoperta tra scienziati e bambini: il caso dei Taccuini giovanili di Charles Darwin. ETS-Naturalmente Scienza, Pisa, in press. ISBN 978-884673150-0

The book addresses scientific discovery in a novel and original way. It features a thorough reconstruction of the... more The book addresses scientific discovery in a novel and original way. It features a thorough reconstruction of the threads of thought that have been found in Darwin’s notebooks, and these are compared with scientific conversations among elementary school children. For philosophy of science, the book constitutes a proposal of studying the “context of discovery”, traditionally left apart in favour of the apparently more logical and systematic “context of justification”. For science education, the work brings forth some ideas for interpreting science teaching and learning with attention to the nature of science (NOS).

Values of research. An inquiry on protecting personal data in epidemiological research

by nicolas lechopier

A book in french from my PhD thesis, awarded by the National Commission for Data Protection (CNIL). 320p. included index and bibliography. Paris : Michalon

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Répondre au questionnaire d'un enquêteur, participer à un essai clinique, aller à la pharmacie chercher un médicament,... more Répondre au questionnaire d'un enquêteur, participer à un essai clinique, aller à la pharmacie chercher un médicament, avoir recours aux services de santé, c'est chaque fois mettre en circulation des données personnelles. Certaines de ces informations sont anodines, d'autres sensibles...Au nom de quoi les chercheurs peuvent-ils y avoir accès? Comment établir une juste mesure entre l'intérêt d'une recherche et le respect de la confidentialité de la vie privée?

Par la loi du 1er juillet 1994, les recherches en santé qui ont recours à de grands fichiers de données personnelles ont été à la fois légitimées et normées. Or cette loi est née au carrefour de plusieurs histoires: celles des registres de population, de la loi Informatique et libertés, de la recherche épidémiologique et de la santé publique. Le texte porte la trace des circonstances et des conceptions qui l'ont fait naître, et révèle en même temps les lignes de fracture d'un débat qui, depuis, est devenu brûlant.

Cette production de normes a soulevé de nouvelles questions. Que faire pour établir un équilibre entre la limitation de la circulation des données personnelles et l'intérêt d'une recherche scientifique? Comment savoir si une recherche vait vraiment la peine de créer un nouveau fichier de données personnelles?Dans un contexte où les conflits d'intérêts sont nombreux, où l'on tente, par de subtiles méthodes, de légitimer des démarches qui n'ont rien à voir avec la science, comment estimer la valeur et l'authenticité d'un projet de recherche? Autant de problèmes épineux qui se posent à toute éthique sociale de la recherche aujourd'hui.

History of Science: A Beginner's Guide

by Sean Johnston

Weaving together intellectual history, philosophy, and social studies, Sean Johnston offers a unique appraisal of the... more Weaving together intellectual history, philosophy, and social studies, Sean Johnston offers a unique appraisal of the history of science and the nature of this evolving discipline. Science is all-encompassing and new developments are usually mired in controversy; nevertheless, it is a driving force of the modern world. Based on its past, where might it lead us in the twenty-first century?

Holism and Reductionism in Biology and Ecology

by Jeff Tuhtan

by Rick C. Looijen

Holism and reductionism are traditionally seen as incompatible views or approaches of nature. In this book, Looijen... more Holism and reductionism are traditionally seen as incompatible views or approaches of nature. In this book, Looijen argues that they should rather be seen as mutually dependent and hence co-operating research programmes. He sheds some interesting new light on the emergence thesis, its relation to the reduction thesis, and on the role and status of functional explanations in biology. He discusses several examples of reduction in both biology and ecology, showing the mutual dependence of holistic and reductionistic research programmes. For ecologists, Looijen has separate chapters to offer in which he clarifies some major yet highly ambiguous and controversial ecological concepts, such as 'community', 'habitat' and 'niche'. His book is the first in-depth study in the philosophy of ecology.

Мисюров Д.А. Опыт диалектики: Формулы развития, диалектическое исчисление, диалектические опыты. — Москва: Книжный дом «ЛИБРОКОМ», 2012. — 288 с. (книга вышла в 2011 году) / Misyurov D.A. Essay on Dialectics: Development formulas, Dialectical Analysis, Dialectical Trials. — Мoscow, Publishing House «Librokom», 2012 (2011). - 288 p.

by Dmitry Misyurov

The book suggests the formulas of development as the dialectical formulas based on the binary notation; observes the... more The book suggests the formulas of development as the dialectical formulas based on the binary notation; observes the dialectical notation and dialectical experiments with theoretical and practical applications.
For professionals, researchers and broad circle of readers interested in science.

Table of contents
Introduction
1. Development formulas
1.1. Symbolic combinatorics as the source of the symbolic
dialectics
1.2. Dominants and Symbolic Weight in the dialectical formulas based on the binary notation

2. Dialectical Notation
2.1. Formula elements as opposites; compositions as
contradictions; levels of developments in the dialectical formulas
2.2. Simple and revolutionary dialectical synthesis
3. Dialectical experiences
3.1. Dialectical formulas as models of development
3.2. Dialectical spirals of the dialectical world
Conclusion

http://urss.ru/cgi-bin/db.pl?lang=Ru&blang=ru&page=Book&id=156952
http://politsymbol.narod2.ru/MisyurovDA_Opyt_dialectici.doc

Dialectical formulas:

1)
XX(00) - XY(01) -YX (10) - YY (11) -
YXX (100) -YXY (101) -YYX (110) -YYY (111)-
YXXX (1000) - YXXY (1001) - YXYX (1010) - YXYY (1011) -
YYXX (1100) - YYXY (1101) - YYYX (1110) - YYYY (1111)-
YXXXX (10000) - ...

2)
yx (00) - yX (01) - Yx (10) - YX (11) -
X’yx (100) - X’yX (101) - X’Yx(110) - X’YX (111) -
Y’x’yx (1000) - Y’x’yX (1001) - Y’x’Yx (1010) - Y’x’YX (1011) -
Y’X’yx (1100) - Y’X’yX (1101) - Y’X’Yx (1110) - Y’X’YX (1111) -
X’’y’x’yx (10000) - ...

3)
y0x0(0) - y0X1(1) - Y2x0(2) - Y2X1(3) -
X’4y0x0(4) - X’4y0X1(5) - X’4Y2x0(6) - X’4Y2X1(7) -
Y’8x’0y0x0 (8) - Y’8x’0y0X1(9) - Y’8x’0Y2x0 (10) - Y’8x’0Y2X1 (11) -
Y’8X’4y0x0 (12) - Y’8X’4y0X1 (13) - Y’8X’4Y2x0 (14) - Y’8X’4Y2X1(15) -
X”16y’0x’0y0x0(16) - X”16y’0x’0y0X1(17) - X”16y’0x’0Y2x0(18) - X”16y’0x’0Y2X1(19) - ...

4)
ba (00) - bA (01) - Ba (10) - BA (11) -
Cba (100) - CbA (101) - CBa(110) - CBA (111) -
Dcba (1000) - DcbA (1001) - DcBa (1010) - DcBA (1011) -
DCba (1100) - DCbA (1101) - DCBa (1110) - DCBA (1111) -
Edcba (10000) - ...

etc.


В книге предлагаются формулы развития как диалектические формулы на основе двоичного счисления; рассматриваются диалектическое исчисление и диалектические опыты с теоретическими и практическими приложениями.

Для специалистов, исследователей и широкого круга заинтересованных читателей.

Оглавление

Введение

1. Формулы развития
1.1. Символическая комбинаторика как исток формульной диалектики
1.2. Доминанты и символические веса в диалектических формулах на основе двоичного счисления

2. Диалектическое исчисление
2.1. Элементы формул как противоположности; композиции как противоречия; уровни развития в диалектических формулах
2.2. Простой и революционный диалектические синтезы

3. Диалектические опыты
3.1. Диалектические формулы как модели развития
3.2. Диалектические спирали диалектического мира

Заключение

http://politsymbol.narod2.ru/MisyurovDA_Opyt_dialectici.doc

http://urss.ru/cgi-bin/db.pl?lang=Ru&blang=ru&page=Book&id=156952

Диалектические формулы:

1) Например, для X и Y, тавтологическая диалектическая формула, упорядоченная по уровням:
XX(00) - XY(01) -YX (10) - YY (11) -
YXX (100) -YXY (101) -YYX (110) -YYY (111)-
YXXX (1000) - YXXY (1001) - YXYX (1010) - YXYY (1011) -
YYXX (1100) - YYXY (1101) - YYYX (1110) - YYYY (1111)-
YXXXX (10000) - и т.д.

2) Диалектическая формула с отражением доминантности и недоминантности элементов:
yx (00) - yX (01) - Yx (10) - YX (11) -
X’yx (100) - X’yX (101) - X’Yx(110) - X’YX (111) -
Y’x’yx (1000) - Y’x’yX (1001) - Y’x’Yx (1010) - Y’x’YX (1011) -
Y’X’yx (1100) - Y’X’yX (1101) - Y’X’Yx (1110) - Y’X’YX (1111) -
X’’y’x’yx (10000) - и т.д.


3) Диалектическая формула с символическими весами:
y0x0(0) - y0X1(1) - Y2x0(2) - Y2X1(3) -
X’4y0x0(4) - X’4y0X1(5) - X’4Y2x0(6) - X’4Y2X1(7) -
Y’8x’0y0x0 (8) - Y’8x’0y0X1(9) - Y’8x’0Y2x0 (10) - Y’8x’0Y2X1 (11) -
Y’8X’4y0x0 (12) - Y’8X’4y0X1 (13) - Y’8X’4Y2x0 (14) - Y’8X’4Y2X1(15) -
X”16y’0x’0y0x0(16) - X”16y’0x’0y0X1(17) - X”16y’0x’0Y2x0(18) - X”16y’0x’0Y2X1(19) - и т.д.

4) Универсальная формула:
ba (00) - bA (01) - Ba (10) - BA (11) -
Cba (100) - CbA (101) - CBa(110) - CBA (111) -
Dcba (1000) - DcbA (1001) - DcBa (1010) - DcBA (1011) -
DCba (1100) - DCbA (1101) - DCBa (1110) - DCBA (1111) -
Edcba (10000) - и т.д.

etc.

Global Microstructures: The Virtual Societies of Financial Markets1

by Davide Panagia

Authors:
Karin Knorr Cetina; University of Konstanz
Urs Bruegger; University of St. Gallen

American Journal of Sociology
Volume 107 Number 4 (January 2002): 905–50

Using participant-observation data, interviews, and trading transcripts drawn from interbank currency trading in... more Using participant-observation data, interviews, and trading transcripts drawn from interbank currency trading in global investment banks, this article examines regular patterns of integration that characterize the global social system embedded in economic transactions. To interpret these patterns, which are global in scope but microsocial in character, this article uses the term “global microstructures.” Features of the interaction order, loosely defined, have become constitutive of and implanted in processes that have global breadth. This study draws on Schutz in the development of the concept of temporal coordination as the basis for the level of intersubjectivity discerned in global markets. This article contributes to economic sociology through the analysis of cambist (i.e., trading) markets, which are distinguished from producer markets, and by positing a form of market coordination that supplements relational or network forms of coordination

Oblicza racjonalności. Wokół myśli Michała Hellera

by Mateusz Hohol

eds. Bartosz Brożek, Janusz Mączka, Wojciech P. Grygiel, Mateusz L. Hohol, Copernicus Center Press, Kraków 2011

Idee filozoficzne, by dojrzeć, potrzebują odpowiedniej gleby; dla filozofii glebą taką jest dyskusja. Michał Heller... more Idee filozoficzne, by dojrzeć, potrzebują odpowiedniej gleby; dla filozofii glebą taką jest dyskusja. Michał Heller pisze, z aprobatą przywołując Poppera, że dyskutowalność uznać należy za warunek konieczny racjonalnej argumentacji filozoficznej. Idee Michała Hellera, kryjące się pod takimi hasłami, jak ‘filozofia w nauce’, ‘logika zapętleń’, ‘matematyczność świata’ czy ‘teologia nauki’, niewątpliwie spełniają warunek dyskutowalności, a celem tego tomu jest sprawić, by były nie tylko dyskutowalne, ale i dyskutowane.

Cassirer, Ernst. Vorlesungen und Vorträge zu philosophischen Problemen der Wissenschaften, 1907-1945.

by Joerg Fingerhut

co-edited with Gerald Hartung & Rüdiger Kramme †, Nachgelassene Manuskripte und Texte. Band 8. 2010. VIII, 283 Seiten. (partially english)

Ernst Cassirer hat sich in den Jahren 1907 bis 1945 in Vorlesungen und Vorträgen immer wieder mit der Frage nach dem... more Ernst Cassirer hat sich in den Jahren 1907 bis 1945 in Vorlesungen und Vorträgen immer wieder mit der Frage nach dem Verhältnis der Philosophie zu den Naturwissenschaften beschäftigt. Trotz der großen zeitlichen Spanne, die die Texte des Bandes umfaßt, wird deutlich, daß es Cassirer von Anfang an darum geht, die von den Wissenschaften selbst aufgeworfenen philosophischen Probleme aufzugreifen und zu erörtern - und keinesfalls nur darum, Probleme der Philosophie an die Wissenschaften heranzutragen. In diesem Sinne ist der Titel "Vorlesungen und Vorträge zu philosophischen Problemen der Wissenschaften" zu verstehen.

Band 8 der Edition "Nachgelassene Manuskripte und Texte" enthält neben dem frühen Vortrag aus Cassirers Berliner Zeit "Substanzbegriff und Funktionsbegriff" (1907) die Antrittsvorlesung in Hamburg "Die Beziehung zwischen Philosophie und exakter Wissenschaft" (1919) und den Hamburger Vorlesungszyklus "Die philosophischen Probleme der Relativitätstheorie" (1920/21). Außerdem enthalten sind zwei Radio-Vorträge zum Thema "Die Einheit der Wissenschaft" (21. und 28. Oktober 1931) und eine deutschsprachige sowie eine englischsprachige Studie zu "Gruppenbegriff und Wahrnehmungstheorie" (1937) und "The Concept of Group" (1945).

Sciences of the interface.

by Hans H. Diebner

Genista-Verlag, Tübingen and ZKM, Karlsruhe (2001). Co-Editors: T. Druckrey and P. Weibel

Conference Proceedings of the international symposium "Sciences of the Interface" from 18 - 21 May, 2000 in... more Conference Proceedings of the international symposium "Sciences of the Interface" from 18 - 21 May, 2000 in the ZKM Karlsruhe. Cooperations: Art Academy for the Media, Köln. On the occassion of Otto Rössler's 60th birthday, organized by Hans H. Diebner, Timothy Druckery and Peter Weibel.

Dialectics of Nature

by Jeff Tuhtan

by Friedrich Engels

Engels unfinished work on science in nature, written between 1872 and 1882. It includes important essays on the theory... more Engels unfinished work on science in nature, written between 1872 and 1882. It includes important essays on the theory of heat and work, as well as a set of excellent sections on the world history of science. The dialectic focus on the study of nature includes notions of continuous change, influenced by Hegel.

Peirce's scientific metaphysics: the philosophy of chance, law and evolution

by Andrew Reynolds