As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on deductive argument--yet, Wesley C. Salmon points out, not all deductive arguments are qualified explanations. The validity of the explanation must itself be examined. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation provides a comprehensive account of the developments in scientific explanation that transpired in the last four decades of the twentieth century. It continues to stand as the most comprehensive treatment of the writings on the subject during these years. Building on the historic 1948 essay by Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, "Studies in the Logic of Explanation,” which introduced the deductive-nomological (D-N) model on which most work on scientific explanation was based for the following four decades, Salmon goes beyond this model's inherent basis of describing empirical knowledge to tells us “not only what, but also why.” Salmon examines the predominant models in chronological order and describes their development, refinement, and criticism or rejection. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation underscores the need for a consensus of approach and ongoing evaluations of methodology in scientific explanation, with the goal of providing a better understanding of natural phenomena.
The nine distinguished contributors to this volume apply that question to the realm of scientific explanation and, although their conclusions vary, they agree in one respect: there definitely was an old consensus.
The von Mises definition of randomness , even when modified so as to employ Church place selections , is not altogether without its problems . These have been reviewed by P. Martin - Löf ( 1969 ) . Additional work by Martin - Löf ( 1966 ) ...
This is an authoritative and up-to-date treatment of the subject, and yet it is relatively brief and nontechnical.
... epistemic access account of reference can account for the grains of truth in the other theories of reference for ... realism . This conception of a shared account of the logic and methods of science was advanced explicitly by 210 Richard ...
This anniversary edition of Salmon’s foundational work in the philosophy of science features a detailed introduction by Christopher Hitchcock, which examines the book’s origins, influences, and major themes, its impact and enduring ...
London: R. Norton, 1684. Campbell, J. The Lives of the Lord ... Chambers, R. Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. London: John Churchill, 1844. ... Cummings, E. E. “A Poet's Advice to Students.” In E. E. Cummings: A Miscellany ...
In this main essay of this book, Wesley Salmon offers a solution to scientific explanation based on the concept of statistical relevance (the S-R model). In this vein, the other two essays herein discuss “Statistical Relevance vs.
This collection of essays reexamines the origins of logical empiricism and offers fresh insights into its relationship to contemporary philosophy of science.
repeated observations of black ravens can confirm the generalization that all ravens are black? ... And here is another obvious- looking point: any evidence that confirms a hypothesis H also confirms any hypothesis that is logically ...
The book consists of 16 chapters and 2 commentaries describing long term R&D projects in science and mathematics education conducted in the Department of Science Teaching, The Weizmann Institute of Science.