A Practical Philosophy for the Life SciencesSUNY Press, 1993 M01 1 - 208 pages This book integrates philosophy of biology and philosophy of medicine with the purpose of making philosophy practical for students and scientists. It contains many exercises and examples from live science. Much attention is given to the translation of scientific reasoning into the language of philosophy. The author shows that philosophical models can be used to evaluate science, if the limitations of the models are recognized so they can be applied in the proper context. On the other hand, some philosophical views of science need to be corrected by science. The book puts philosophy and science in a broader perspective. It integrates practical philosophy and ethics in applications to live science and uncovers limitations of current ethical theory. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Concepts | 9 |
22 Definitions | 16 |
23 Empirical Reference Operationality and Coherence | 21 |
24 Concepts and Classifications | 24 |
25 Hard Cases | 26 |
26 Afterthoughts | 31 |
Arguments and Fallacies | 33 |
64 Controlled Experimentation | 95 |
Laws and Theories | 101 |
72 Generality | 103 |
73 Coherence | 113 |
74 Concepts Revisited | 118 |
75 Afterthoughts | 123 |
Explanation | 125 |
82 Causation Prediction and Alternative Explanations | 132 |
32 Evaluating Arguments | 37 |
33 Fallacies | 40 |
34 More on Induction | 44 |
35 Afterthoughts | 47 |
Elements of Formal Logic | 49 |
42 Predicate Logic | 55 |
43 Inductive Logic | 61 |
44 Asides on Causation | 64 |
45 Afterthoughts | 66 |
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 4 | 69 |
Scientific Research An Overview | 73 |
Hypotheses | 79 |
62 Testability and The Process of Testing | 84 |
63 Alternative Hypotheses | 92 |
83 Special Cases | 139 |
84 Afterthoughts | 145 |
Facts and Values | 147 |
92 Distinguishing Facts and Values | 149 |
The Use of Methodology | 151 |
94 Deplorable Gaps | 153 |
Miscellaneous Examples | 156 |
APPENDIX TO CHAPTER 9 | 158 |
Disciplines and Dutch Dikes | 173 |
Answers to Exercises | 179 |
Bibliography | 189 |
| 193 | |
| 203 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acceptable altruism ambiguous animals apply argue assumption behavior biologists birds casuistry cause chapter circadian rhythms complex concept concerning conclusion Consider context criterion of coherence deductive argument defining features definition disease effects empirical content empirical reference empirical statements environmental ethics evaluate evolution evolutionary evolutionary biology example existential explanation expression fallacy false falsifiability features of organisms fitness following argument formal function genetic program genetically determined hypothesis important inductive inductive reasoning infer Jonsen and Toulmin laws levels logical statement material implication meaning medicine methodological criteria Mill's methods models natural selection normative notion particular phenomenon philosophy of biology philosophy of science phyletic gradualism polder possible predicate logic prediction premises present processes propositional logic quantifier reasoning reconstruction regard represent reproduction role scientific theories scientists semantic view sense species Steen stress Suppose tautology term testability thesis things tion true truth universal quantifier universal statement valid