Particles and Waves: Historical Essays in the Philosophy of Science
Author(s): Peter Achinstein (Author)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: 15 Oct. 1992
Edition: Illustrated
Language: English
Print length: 348 pages
ISBN-10: 019506755X
ISBN-13: 9780195067552
Book Description
This volume brings together six published and two new essays by the noted philosopher of science, Peter Achinstein. It represents the culmination of his examination of methodological issues that arise in nineteenth-century physics. He focuses on the philosophical problem of how, if at all, is it possible to confirm scientific hypotheses that postulate `unobservables’ such as light waves, molecules, and electrons? This question is one that not only was of great interest to nineteenth-century physicists and methodologists, but continues to occupy philosophers of science up to the present day.
Editorial Reviews
Review
a terrific work. Rarely has such outstanding history of science been coupled with such subtle and penetrating philosophical analysis … Particles and Waves deploys the analytical rigor Achinstein is justly famous for. ― Frederick Suppe, University of Maryland
Review
`a terrific work. Rarely has such outstanding history of science been coupled with such subtle and penetrating philosophical analysis … Particles and Waves deploys the analytical rigor Achinstein is justly famous for.’Frederick Suppe, University of Maryland`It is valuable to have all [these] essays in one volume and especially valuable to have the introductory essays to tie the others together … a welcome addition to the literature; recommended for all college libraries.’Choice`he is sensitive to issues in the history of methodology, and his book would not be out of place on the reading list of (an honours level) course on that subject … although most of the essays have already been published elsewhere, they hang together well and Achinstein has provided good introductions to each part. I wish all collections were as thoughtful as this one’ Meta Science‘impressive book’ John Worrall, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Mind, Vol. 103, April 1994
From the Back Cover
Particles and Waves deploys the analytical rigor Achinstein is justly famous for. Judged against the recent spate of very good historico-philosophical arguments, Achinstein’s book stands out as making the most penetrating and profound philosophic contributions.
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