The Metaphysics of Science An Account of Modern Science in Terms of Principles, Laws and Theories

includes index and biblioraphy

1. EMPIRICISM VS. REALISM - THE PERENNIAL DEBATE IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 9
Comte, Whewell, Mill, Mach, Boltzmann, Poincare,
Duhem, Campbell, Hempel, Harre, van Fraassen,
Laudan, Cartwright, Hacking, Putnam
2. FUNDAMENTAL AND REFINED PRINCIPLES:THE CORE OF MODERN SCIENCE 49
1. Three Principles Central to Modern Science 53
2. Refinements of the Principles in Science 62
3. Four Ways Principles Function with Respect to Science 65
4. On the Epistemological Status of the Principles of Science 71
3. EMPIRICAL LAWS: THE SUPERVENTION OF EXPERIENCE 73
1. The Uniformity Principle and Empirical Laws 74
2. The Substance Principle and Empirical Systems 79
3. Continuity 81
4. Necessity and Universality 82
5. Discovery, Prediction and Technology 83
6. The Supervention of Experience 85
7. Empirical Laws Require Explanation 94
4. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES: CLOSING THE CIRCLE 95
1. Theoretical Reduction and the Closing of the Circle 96
2. The Substance Principle and Theoretical Ontologies 97
3. The Causality Principle and Causal Mechanisms 99
4. The Hypothetical Aspect of Theories 102
5. Explanation, Understanding and the Limits of Intelligibility 104
5. THE PRINCIPLE-THEORY-LAW MODEL OF SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION 109
1. Theoretical Models, Source-Analogues and Abstraction 109
2. The Substantial, Formal and Causal Aspects of a Theoretical Model 113
3. Theoretical Systems and the Derivation of Empirical Laws 115
4. Theoretical Models Can Suggest Experiments But Do Not Determine Their Results
5. The Nominal vs. the Real Aspect of the Subject 122
6. Idealisation 123
7. Explanation vs. Prediction 127
6. THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: A CONSIDERATION OF ECONOMICS 130
1. The Principles of Rationality and Equilibrium 131
2. The Empirical Facts of Economics 134
3. Economic Models Are Theories 136
4. The Substantial, Causal and Formal Aspects of Economic Models 138
5. Intentional Constructs and Empathetic Understanding 140
6. The Source and Subject of Economic Models 143
7. Abstraction and Idealisation 145
NATURAL KINDS 148
1. What Are Natural Kinds for Modern Science? 148
2. Nominal and Real Essences: Key to the Understanding of Natural Kinds 151
3. Natural Kinds in Biology 153
4. On Identifying Natural Kinds 157
5. Sets, Classes, Individuals and Natural Kinds 163
6. On Difference of Level and the Epistemological Status of Attributions of Nominal and Real Essence 166
PROBABILITY AND CONFIRMATION 170
1. General Considerations Regarding Probability 170
2. Two Senses of the Word "Confirm" 171
3. Evidential Basis vs. Subject-Matter 172
4. Methodological Grounds and Inductive Probability 173
5. Subjective Probability and the Implications of a Probability Claim 174
6. Knowledge-Relativity and the Propensity Interpretation 175
7. Nominal vs. Real Probability Determinations 176
8. Methodological Requirements of Probability Locutions 178
9. On the Acceptability of Scientific Theories 179
10. On the Confirmation of Experimental Laws 180
11. On the Applicability of Scientific Principles 181
EMPIRICISM VS. REALISM REVISITED 183
1. The Historical Debate 183
2. The Supervention of Experience 186
3. Ontology vs. Epistemology 188
4. Understanding vs. Knowledge 191
10. MODERN SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE 193
1. A Particular Enterprise Emanating from Particular Principles 193
2. The Revolution from Mythopoeic Thought 194
3. Three Streams in Greek Thought 196
4. Christianity, Platonism, Aristotelianism and the Scientific Revolution 198
5. Intellectual and Practical Successes and Problems 203
6. What Next? 206