Gerhard Schurz

Philosophy of Science

A Unified Approach

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Philosophy of Science: A Unified Approach, Second Edition combines a general introduction to philosophy of science with an integrated survey of all its important subfields. As the book's subtitle suggests, this excellent overview is guided methodologically by "a unified approach" to philosophy of science: behind the diversity of scientific fields one can recognize a methodological unity. This unity is worked out in this book, revealing all the while important differences between subject areas. The book offers a two-part approach that makes it an excellent introduction for readers new to the field and a useful resource for more advanced students. Each chapter is divided into two sections. The first section assumes no foreknowledge of the subject introduced, and the second section builds upon the first by bringing into the conversation more advanced, complementary topics from contemporary research. Definitions, key propositions, examples and figures complement all of the core material. At the end of every chapter there are selected readings and exercise questions (with solutions and answers to many of them at the end of the book). The book also includes a comprehensive bibliography and an index. The Second Edition has been revised to make the technical material much more accessible for students outside of the sciences and philosophy. It also incorporates new research over the last decade, including significantly expanded coverage of values and science, mechanistic explanations, and inductive risk. An extended index of subjects that can also be used as a glossary has been added to the back of the book.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd
• 2. Auflage
• Seitenzahl: 444
• Erscheinungstermin: 18. Juni 2026
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm
• ISBN-13: 9781041145813
• ISBN-10: 1041145810
• Artikelnr.: 76259136

Autorenporträt

Gerhard Schurz (MSc 1080, PhD 1083) is professor for philosophy at the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (since 3/2002) and member of the Leopoldina (German academy of sciences) and the International Academy for Philosophy of Science. Before 2002, he was associated professor at the University of Salzburg and guest professor at the University of California at Irvine and Yale University. His research areas include philosophy of science, epistemology, logic, and cognitive science. He is author of 270 research articles and 12 books.

Inhaltsangabe

1. Introduction: Where Do We Stand? 2. The Question of Unity: In Search for
Common Foundations of the Sciences 3. The Conceptual Toolkit: Language,
Logic and Probability 4. A Question of Fit: Law Hypotheses and their
Empirical Testing 5. Going Beyond Experience: Theories and their Empirical
Evaluation 6. In Search of Causes: Explanation and All That Goes with It

Rezensionen

I consider this book to be a unique work both with regard to the sheer amount of material it covers but also with regard to the clarity, depth and insight with which these matters are dealt with by one of Europe's foremost analytic philosophers. I would not hesitate to use it in an advanced course on the subject, and I believe it would work well also for an introductory course given the careful way in which the book is structured into introductory and advanced material.

Erik J. Olsson, Lund University

Philosophy of Science: a Unified Approach revamps and bolsters the logical empiricist way to think about and to practice philosophy of science. It combines technical precision and rigour with philosophical breadth and depth. It delves into all major philosophical problems and issues in general philosophy of science. It elegantly presents the received positions and approaches, but it also articulates novel views and arguments. It systematically explains the necessary technical concepts and makes them do deep philosophical work. Philosophy of Science: a Unified Approach lives up to its promise to highlight and defend the methodological unity of the sciences. Gerhard Schurz has written a superb introduction to philosophy of science; novices and experts alike have a lot to learn from it.

Stathis Psillos, University of Western Ontario & University of Athens

This is an excellent introduction to the general philosophy of science. It is lucidly written and very well structured in elementary and advanced subsections. Inspired by the classic authors of the 20th century, such as Carnap and Popper, and guided by the methodological version of the idea of the unity of the sciences and the humanities, Gerhard Schurz shows how it stands with the main topics in the first decades of the 21th century.

Theo Kuipers, University of Groningen