Method and Appraisal in the Physical Sciences: The Critical Background to Modern Science, 1800-1905Colin Howson First published in 1976, this is a volume of studies on the problems of theory-appraisal in the physical sciences - how and why important theories are developed, changed and are replaced, and by what criteria we judge one theory an advance on another. The volume is introduced by a classic paper of Imre Lakatos's, which sets out a theory for tackling these problems - the methodology of scientific research programmes. Five contributors then test this theory against particular and celebrated case-studies in the history of the physical sciences (particularly in the nineteenth century). The volume ends with a characteristically forceful and original critique of the whole enterprise by Paul Feyerabend. the book is a companion volume to Method and Appraisal in Economics. Both are natural sequels to Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge and attempt to work out in particular cases the implications of some of the theories presented in that book. |
Contents
Atomism versus thermodynamics | 41 |
a case | 107 |
oxygen supplant phlogiston? Research programmes | 181 |
Einsteins programme supersede Lorentzs? | 211 |
The rejection of Avogadros hypotheses | 277 |
MARTIN FRICKÉ | 309 |
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Common terms and phrases
acid anomalies appraisal assumed assumption atoms Avogadro's Boltzmann Brougham calxes Chemical claim Clausius corpuscular theory criticism crucial experiment Dalton degenerating density diffraction discovery Duhem Einstein empirical progress energy ether example experimental explain external falsificationism falsificationist Feyerabend footnote force Fresnel fringes Galilean transformation gases Gay-Lussac Gay-Lussac's law gravitational heat heuristic historian history of science hydrogen hypothesis Imre Lakatos inductivism inductivist inertial inflammable air interference internal history kinetic programme kinetic theory Lakatos Lavoisier Lavoisier's light logical Lorentz mathematical Maxwell Maxwell's equations mean free path mechanics methodology of research methodology of scientific Michelson-Morley experiment Michelson's molecules motion Newton Newtonian novel facts observed optics oxygen paper particles phenomena Philosophy of Science phlogiston theory physical Planck Popper Priestley principle problem rational reconstruction refuted result rival scientific research programmes scientists second law Special Relativity standards theoretical thermodynamics tion transformation velocity volume wave theory weight Young Zahar