This volume includes Whewell's seminal studies of the logic of induction (with his critique of Mill's theory), arguments for his realist view that science discovers necessary truths about nature, and exercises in the epistemology and ontology of science. The book sets forth a coherent statement of a historically important philosophy of science whose influence has never been greater: every one of Whewell's fundamental ideas about the philosophy of science is presented here.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Old Book,
By J. Scott Shipman (Annandale, VA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Theory of Scientific Method (Hardcover)
I'll be the first to admit that Professor Butts' little book on 19th century polymath William Whewell isn't for everyone, but boy there are parts that are truly engaging, amusing, and instructive. Whewell invented/coined the word "consilience" and was the first person (at least that I'm aware of) to build a logical map of the history of scientific induction---starting with the written record through Newton, illustrating in table form how each new discovery was derived from an earlier discovery or hypothesis. Whewell's writing was geared toward British students, so his unique sense of humor comes through.As an exercise and a philosophy, I try each year to read "old books"---this one of my old books for 2008 (I also read his three volume: The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences). An old saw I heard as a young man: "If you want a new idea, read an old book!" And, I learned much. Highly recommended, but very specialized.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence:
William Whewell was born in Lancaster, England, in 1794, and died in Cambridge in 1866. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
inductive tables, cannot distinctly conceive, planets describe ellipses, motive quantity, accelerative quantity, inductive proposition, accelerative effect, inductive truth, fundamental antithesis, successive generalization, undulatory theory, inductive sciences, elementary composition, uniform force, vera causa, diurnal revolution, vis viva, emission theory, geometrical truth, terrestrial gravity, geometrical axioms, term induction Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Method of Residues, Novum Organon Renovatum, Method of Gradation, Sir John Herschel, John Bernoulli, Methods of Observation, Fourth Rule, History of Ideas, Mill's Logic, Physical Optics, First Cause, Inductive Principle, Newton's Rule, Second Residue, Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Measurement of Phenomena New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
William Whewell was born in Lancaster, England, in 1794, and died in Cambridge in 1866. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
inductive tables, cannot distinctly conceive, planets describe ellipses, motive quantity, accelerative quantity, inductive proposition, accelerative effect, inductive truth, fundamental antithesis, successive generalization, undulatory theory, inductive sciences, elementary composition, uniform force, vera causa, diurnal revolution, vis viva, emission theory, geometrical truth, terrestrial gravity, geometrical axioms, term induction Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Method of Residues, Novum Organon Renovatum, Method of Gradation, Sir John Herschel, John Bernoulli, Methods of Observation, Fourth Rule, History of Ideas, Mill's Logic, Physical Optics, First Cause, Inductive Principle, Newton's Rule, Second Residue, Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Measurement of Phenomena New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 24
books:
See all 24 books this book cites
36
books
cite this book:
See all 36 books citing this book
- Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences: Works in the Philosophy of Science 1830-1914 by William Whewell on 9 pages
- History of the Inductive Sciences. Three Volume Set by William Whewell on 7 pages
- System of Logic by Johns Mill on 4 pages
- Faraday: Chemical Manipulation (The Royal Institution library of science) by FARADAY on page 206, and Back Matter
- The Philosophical Writings of Descartes: Volume 1 by René Descartes in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 24 books this book cites
- Scientific Method: A Historical and Philosophical Introduction by Barry Gower on page 128, and Back Matter
- A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (OPUS) by John Losee on page 103, and Back Matter
- Scientific Method: A Historical and Philosophical Introduction by Barry Gower on page 128, and Back Matter
- The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past by John Lewis Gaddis in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Intelligent Enneagram by A. G. E. Blake on page 336, and Back Matter
See all 36 books citing this book
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
|
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Books > History > Historical Study > History of Ideas
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Humanities > Philosophy > History & Surveys
- Books > New & Used Textbooks > Science & Mathematics
- Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy
- Books > Science & Math > Experiments, Instruments & Measurement > Scientific Instruments
- Books > Science & Math > History & Philosophy
