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Book Cover for: Representing and Intervening: Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science, Ian Hacking

Representing and Intervening: Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science

Ian Hacking

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This 1983 book is a lively and clearly written introduction to the philosophy of natural science, organized around the central theme of scientific realism. It has two parts. 'Representing' deals with the different philosophical accounts of scientific objectivity and the reality of scientific entities. The views of Kuhn, Feyerabend, Lakatos, Putnam, van Fraassen, and others, are all considered. 'Intervening' presents the first sustained treatment of experimental science for many years and uses it to give a new direction to debates about realism. Hacking illustrates how experimentation often has a life independent of theory. He argues that although the philosophical problems of scientific realism can not be resolved when put in terms of theory alone, a sound philosophy of experiment provides compelling grounds for a realistic attitude. A great many scientific examples are described in both parts of the book, which also includes lucid expositions of recent high energy physics and a remarkable chapter on the microscope in cell biology.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press
  • Publish Date: Oct 20th, 1983
  • Pages: 304
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.50in - 5.50in - 0.80in - 0.90lb
  • EAN: 9780521282468
  • Categories: • Philosophy & Social Aspects• General

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What people are saying

Mentioner image for: Alice Dreger, Ph.D.
Alice Dreger, Ph.D.
@AliceDreger
2 years

Writer, journalist, historian. (Murders committed as Molly Macallen.)

I was just quoting "Representing and Intervening" last night in the opening of the 4th book of my mystery series. He was truly a great. https://t.co/cxERI4WTcU

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Mentioner image for: Dr Gary Cox - Philosopher
Dr Gary Cox - Philosopher
@garycox01
2 years

How To Be an Existentialist and Other Works #Philosophy #Existentialism #Sartre #FreeSpeech #AntiWoke #GenderCritical 😻🇬🇧🇫🇷🇺🇸🇺🇦😻

@thePiggsBoson Some great titles here. As undergrads we studied Representing and Intervening by Ian Hacking.

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Mentioner image for: Onur Özgöde @ummodern@sciences.social
Onur Özgöde @ummodern@sciences.social
@ummodern
2 years

AP @Bilkent_Pols | Econ sociologist working on governance & techno-politics | Writing book on systemic risk @MITpress | @ColumbiaSoc Alum

This is is a massive loss. I literally did my PhD reading his books one after the other. His work on the archeology of stats and probability were mind-bending; Representing and Intervening was foundational, Social Construction of What? was mind-opening. https://t.co/FebailNRZW

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Praise for this book

'... its refreshingly provocative style and broad sweep will excite readers much more than the usual woodenly written introductions.' The Times Literary Supplement
'In summary, Hacking's book is an extremely valuable contribution ... I urge you all to read it and to use it in your courses on the philosophy of science.' British Journal of the Philosophy of Science

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