Title of text

What is This Thing Called Science

Author(s)

A. F. Chalmers

Publisher/Source

Hackett Publishing Company Inc.

Intended audience

Undergraduate, Graduate

Summary

Chalmers presents a variety of philosophical perspectives on the epistemological nature of scientific knowledge. He begins with several historically important perspectives: an inductivist perspective then falsificationism as developed by Popper followed by an examination of the perspectives of Kuhn Lakatos and Feyerabend. For each perspective he summarizes the essential aspects concerning the nature of scientific knowledge and its validation followed by a criticism of each. These perspectives make up 10 of the book's 15 chapters. The remaining chapters examine more contemporary philosophical viewpoints.

Process of Science Used or Emphasized within the Text

Chalmers examines how different philosophers/scientists have described the processes involved in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge. He addresses the role of empirical observations theories and laws logic and cultural and sociological factors in the development of scientific ideas.