The Ozone Layer
The Ozone Layer
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The Ozone Layer is an accessible history of stratospheric ozone, from its discovery in the nineteenth century to current investigations of the Antarctic ozone hole. Drawing directly on the scientific literature, Christie uses the story of ozone as a case study for examining fundamental issues relating to the practice of modern science and the conduct of scientific debate. Linking key debates in the philosophy of science to an example of real-world science it is an excellent and thought-provoking introduction to the philosophy of science.
- Accessible history of stratospheric ozone, from the discovery of ozone in the nineteenth century through to the results of investigations of the Antarctic ozone hole
- Directly relates some key issues in modern philosophy of science to an interesting modern example of scientific investigation
- Written in non-technical language but based on the primary scientific literature
Reviews & endorsements
"Maureen Christie's carefully reasoned book presents a critical philosophical analysis of the evidence development between 1970 and 1994 on the effects of human-produced chlorinated fluorocarbons ( CFCs) on the ozone layer...remarkably successful, providing an illuminating way to understand the interplay of argument and evidence." American Scientist, VOL 89
"Although the book focuses on ozone, a few additional examples provide helpful extensions." CHOICE Nov 2001
"The volume is scholarly but written at a level that makes it accessible to the non-specialist" Research News & Opportunities in science and Theology
Product details
January 2001Hardback
9780521650724
228 pages
229 × 152 × 14 mm
0.48kg
3 b/w illus. 1 table
Available
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- Part I. History of the Understanding of Stratospheric Ozone:
- 2. Stratospheric ozone before 1960
- 3. Chlorinated fluorocarbons
- 4. The supersonic transport (SST) debate
- 5. Molina and Rowland: chlorine enters the story
- 6. Too much of a good thing? Crucial data backlog in the Antarctic ozone hole discovery
- 7. Antarctic ozone hole - theories and investigations
- 8. Completing the picture: from AAOE to 1994
- Part II. Philosophical Issues Arising from the History:
- 9. Prediction in science
- 10. The crucial experiment
- 11. Positive and negative evidence in theory selection
- 12. Branches and sub-branches of science: problems at disciplinary boundaries
- 13. Scientific evidence and powerful computers: new problems for philosophers of science?
- 14. The scientific consensus.
