An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science

For better and for worse, in ways both obvious and subtle, the work of scientists has helped to shape the world around us. The obvious impacts of science on our lives include the technologies that depend on scientific research. Our approaches to communicating, eating, becoming or staying healthy, moving from one place to another, reproducing, entertaining ourselves – all of these have been changed by the findings of scientific research. Perhaps less obvious, but not less important, are changes in how we think about ourselves and our world. The concepts and ways of thinking that scientists employ as they engage in research and seek to explain the phenomena they uncover tend to migrate out of the specialist settings in which they originate. Though they tend to be transformed in the process, these concepts and methods turn up in the broader culture as themes we draw upon to describe and explain the world.

Clearly, science is a big deal. This book is not just about science, though, it is about the philosophy of science. Even if you agree that one should care about science, you might wonder whether you should care about the philosophy of science. The point of this preface is to begin to persuade you that you should care about it.