Just a Theory: Exploring the Nature of Science [Paperback]

Moti Ben-Ari (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2005 | ISBN-10: 1591022851 | ISBN-13: 978-1591022855

Some people claim that evolution is 'just a theory'. Do you know what a scientific theory really is? Just a theory is an overview of the modern concepts of science. A clear understanding of the nature of science will enable you to distinguish science from pseudoscience (which illegitimately wraps itself in the mantle of science), and real social issues in science from the caricatures portrayed in postmodernist critiques. Ben-Ari's style is light (even humorous) and easy to read, bringing the latest concepts of science to the general reader. Of particular interest is his analysis of the terminology of science (fact, law, proof, theory) in relation to the colloquial meaning of these terms. Between chapters are biographical vignettes of scientists - both familiar and unfamiliar - showing their common commitment to the enterprise of science, together with a diversity of backgrounds and personalities. This accessible, informative, and comprehensive work will give lay readers a good grasp of real science.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Contrary to common belief, scientific theories are not true or false but are provisionally accepted pending disproof. Computer scientist Ben-Ari spells out this modest but far-reaching claim in two parts: one describes the elements that qualify something as science, and the second dissects the logical deficiencies of pseudoscience. Far from dryly defining the hallmarks of a valid theory, Ben-Ari illustrates these elements with examples from the history of science, such as Galileo's formulas for acceleration and Newton's for gravity. Further discussing aspects of a valid theory, such as whether it's susceptible to falsification, or the social environment in which new theory supplants reigning theory, Ben-Ari is ready for the bemusing task of contemplating the assertions of astrology and so-called intelligent design in biology. He concludes that the predictive power of both is vague, and the mechanism for each is typically an ad hoc explanation of a particular observation, not of a wide class of observations, as a scientific theory insists upon. A readable precis that will best suit science majors. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Moti Ben-Ari (Rehovot, Israel) is associate professor in the Department of Science Teaching at the Weizmann Institute, Israel, and the author of six textbooks on computer science. He has received the 2004 ACM SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contributions to Computer Science Education.

Product Details

• Paperback: 237 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591022851
• ISBN-13: 978-1591022855
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #391,535 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and informative, August 18, 2005

By 

M. Chmiel (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Just a Theory: Exploring the Nature of Science (Paperback)

Ben-Ari has written a highly enjoyable book about the nature of science that reads quickly and easily. I strongly recommend this book for anyone involved with teaching science (that may be a professor, secondary, or elementary school teacher). The author takes the best, most sober points from philosophers, historians, and sociologists of science and demonstrates the implications these works have for preparing a scientifically literate public. He clarifies troublesome definitions such as "theory" "fact" "proof" and "hypothesis". His insights on falsification and the need for an understanding of statistics are dead-on. I am using this book in the post-secondary courses I teach.
Why only four stars? First, in his scientists' vignettes (where he uses biographical information on a scientist to illustrate a nature-of-science-point) are a rather homogenous bunch, for true excellence I would have to see more diverse group of scientists discussed. Secondly, his understanding of science as a discourse is somewhat impoverished, and I would say that his treatment of the topic isn't completely fair.
But- this should not take away from a strong recommendation. Great book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking and very readable, September 23, 2009

By 

fungo (Toronto, ON CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Just a Theory: Exploring the Nature of Science (Paperback)

A very good book, in most ways. It covers some familiar ground, but generally with a fresh perspective. One limitation is that it really does stick to the goal of answering that tiresome, bone-headed criticism of evolution as being "just a theory." Thus, much space is devoted to hammering home the definition of the word "theory." But this explanation does range through many interesting examples, and is always readable.

Where I part company with the author is in his closing statements, to the effect that most of what there is to be discovered has already been discovered. (I paraphrase, badly.) I believe that Ben-Ari underestimates the quantity of what we do not yet know, as well as the potential impact of numerous breakthroughs that can already be foreseen. Of course, that's all speculation, and Ben-Ari's take is at least stimulating.

In short, a quick, entertaining, worthwhile read.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Easy and Enjoyable Introduction to Philosophy of Science, September 10, 2008

By 

Irfan A. Alvi (Towson, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Just a Theory: Exploring the Nature of Science (Paperback)

The majority of books on philosophy of science are written by philosophers, and they tend to get into a lot of hair splitting, often with drawn out arguments and counterarguments. While this rigor is necessary to convey the full subleties and complexities of the subject, it can also test a reader's patience, obscure key points, and become so overwhelming for beginners that many will abandon the subject as too muddled or too useless (or both!).

Ben-Ari's book is refreshing in that it provides an introduction to philosophy of science which cuts to the chase and is easy and enjoyable to read, and therefore ideal for beginners. A further plus is that the author is a computer scientist with an impressive grasp of a diverse range of sciences, and the illustrative examples in the book are correspondingly diverse.

Ben-Ari has an evident pro-science bias, and thus tends to somewhat downplay arguments which reveal the limitations and confusions of science, but I still think that his presentation is balanced enough to make this book an excellent introduction to the subject.

Readers who already have some background in philosophy of science should find the book to be a quick and entertaining review of the subject, but will probably finish the book with the thought "I already knew all of this, and need to read something more challenging and advanced."

Nonetheless, this an excellent book for what it aims to do, and is written with admirable clarity and conciseness.