Sage Publications The Philosophy of Science: Science and Objectivity

This comprehensive textbook provides a clear nontechnical introduction to the philosophy of science. Through asking whether science can provide us with objective knowledge of the world, the book provides a thorough and accessible guide to the key thinkers and debates that define the field. George Couvalis surveys traditional themes around theory and observation, induction, probability, falsification and rationality as well as more recent challenges to objectivity including relativistic, feminist and sociological readings. This provides a helpful framework in which to locate the key intellectual contributions to these debates, ranging from those of Mill and Hume, through Popper and Kuhn to Laudan, Bloor and Garfinkel among others. Review `In the preface to this book, the author explains his intention of writing a textbook on the philosophy of science that is neither too technical nor too simplistic. It is aimed at higher-education students and academics who already have some philosophical background knowledge. The book gives a critical account of the ideas of some of the most influential philosophers of science′ - Pragmatics `The book is a good read and will doubtless find a home in many introductory courses in the philosophy of science′ - Science, Technology & Society `Couvalis is unfailingly clear, acute and learned. This well-researched, well-paced new text on the philosophy of science will be widely used and welcomed′ - Professor Graham Nerlich, University of Adelaide About the Author George Couvalis is a senior lecturer in the Discipline of Philosophy at Flinders University of South Australia.