Worldviews: An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science

Abstract

intends his book Worldviews for beginners in history and philosophy of science.His ambitious aim is to provide an accessible and enjoyable introduction to fundamental issues in history, philosophy, and science, as well as to draw out the connections between these fields.The time frame is broad, the three parts of the book spanning the period from around 300 BC until today.The focus is on physics and, more specifically, astronomy.Part 1 introduces in a non-technical way some key philosophical concepts and problems, which include: the notions of worldview, truth, and underdetermination; facts and evidence; the problem of induction; and the attitudes of instrumentalism and realism.Part 2 offers a survey of the main views on the physical structure of the universe.It begins with the Aristotelian conception and outlines the transition from the Ptolemaic to the Newtonian system (via Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, and Galileo).Part 3 covers important recent developments in the sciences, namely, relativity theory, quantum theory, and evolutionary theory.The book ends with useful bibliographical notes and suggestions for further readings on each chapter.