5 ms·

Philosophy of Science: Suggested Core Readings and Background Texts [pdf]

2 points by ms337 6y ago

hilbert42 6y ago
This appears to me to be a reasonably comprehensive list to cover most of the essential HPS syllabus. What worries me about HPS is that it shouldn't be studied just on its own, as I see it traditional philosophy ought to be a prerequisite or studied concurrently. As you'll note, this list doesn't include those texts. Traditional philosophy puts the ethical and logical thinking structures (reasoning processes) in place - it supplies the framework to make HPS more understandable and cohesive. (In my opinion, both subjects are increasingly important in the modern world as developments in science, engineering and technology generally have reached such a stage of development that we cannot afford for too much to go wrong - the consequences are too great. Both phil. and HPS put things into perspective and thus can have a stabilizing influence - that is if we take them seriously and apply them properly.)
- chordalkeyboard 6y ago
  What are some good books and articles that you recommend to supplement this History and Philosophy of Science list?
  - hilbert42 6y ago
    Oh heavens, there are so many. Let me think about it and I'll post a few titles. It would be easy to list lots but for those studying HPS it's important to make them as relevant as possible. The 'trouble' with philosophy (actually more its beauty) is that it's such wide, diverse and interesting subject that it's dead easy wander off into one of its many branches and then get sidetracked. As it is, many professional philosophers specialize in one of these branch fields (not that that's a bad thing as they've already learned the prerequisites - shortcuts don't usually work here). Although I've studied philosophy I'm not a professional philosopher (I'm in technolgy) so it's very important that I try not to mislead anyone (actually philosophy teaches you to think like that). Irrespective of any texts that I would recommend, there are two things you should do: (a) consult the syllabuses of traditional university philosophy courses, and (b) either talk to a mainstream philosopher or professional university lecturer in the subject about suitable texts or even about doing a short course in the subject (that's if you are already doing HPS). (Let me stress, identify mainstream philosophical strands first, learn from them so you don't waste time.) Let me add these points, I've always been involved with technology, science and engineering - technology has brought me my bread and butter but my studying philosophy and HPS has profoundly altered my perception of technology per se - and for that matter the world in general. In many ways it's made me a better human being simply because it teaches one to view the world from multiple perspectives and to try and think logically. (Mind you, that doesn't always work but you at least know when you've screwed up. Philosophy is a very persistent and recalcitrant rose-colored glasses remover.) Like many obsessive techies, it's easy for me to get fixated on my own specialities at the exclusion of almost everything else. Philosophy has the marvelous ability of regularly kicking me off my pedestal back down to earth. As such, I reckon both philosophy and HPS ought be compulsory short courses for both scientists and engineers at university.
  - hilbert42 6y ago
    I've had two attempts to post a list and each time it was deemed too long even on the second heavy edit (perhaps I'm being penalized for too many long posts lately as this one had a considerably shorter byte count than others I've posted successfully). Anyway, it was mostly a reedited rehash of stuff that I've posted previously with a few new additions (rehashing it saved considerable time over starting from scratch). By cutting it even further it won't serve its purpose. When I've a moment I'll restructure and re-post it.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - hilbert42 6y ago
    Here's my promised list (note it's only a rough guide). As mentioned, I couldn't post earlier versions as they were too big. Even this new rehash (which was already rehashed from much older posts) is too big, so I'll post the first two thirds now and the remainder later. What's missing (compared to my initial attempt) are large sections of my commentary. For additional details use Wiki (these books are well known, hence they all should have entries). Most are out of copyright so you can download them from the I.A. (Internet Archive). 1. The Republic (Book 1 only)—Plato Begin study here; it's an excellent intro to formal argument (v. important), as it's the basis of arguing things out in logical ways. It's a dialogue between the philosopher Socrates and a sophist Thrasymachus about the meaning of justice. It's also fun to read, watching Socrates demolish Thrasymachus' selfish stance of 'every-man-for-himself' in logical sequence is like watching a chess game between a master and a cocky arrogant rookie. The book's passed the test of time, it's still in print nearly two half millennia after it was written. Use Jowett's translation, 1892 ed will do. Jowet's info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Jowett https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Jowett 2. Last Days of Socrates—Plato (Read only if you've time.) It's important in the grand scheme of Greek philosophy and the fact that Plato was affected by the execution of Socrates (his teacher). 3. Nicomachean Ethics—Aristotle (Likely too long now but essential later). Any Aristotle text is worthy of study, he's a giant in the field, his influence is still stamped all over Western culture today. Phil. is incomplete without studying him. The book's deals with ethics and how people should live their lives. 4. Meditations on First Philosophy, & etc.—René Descartes Very influential book. Initially, just read Discourse on the Method, it's about finding the truth, especially the sciences. Here, you'll find the famous phrase "I think therefore I exist/am". It also turns up in the 'related' Principles of Philosophy as Cogito, ergo sum. If you advance further, you'll be taught about breakdowns in reasoning/faulty logic and Descartes isn't immune to them either. One of his logical steps is a misstep and is famous for it—no, I won't tell you what its is. 5. Sir Francis Bacon—Rather than give specific references just get his collected essays (they're all short), select any relevant tiles to read. 6. The Leviathan—Thomas Hobbes. Herein Hobbes addresses statecraft, society, civil power government (actually very important). Written in the aftermath of the English Civil War when such matters were still raw and fluid. BTW, our modern understanding of the word commonwealth comes from Hobbes, the book's full title is: Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. 7 & 8. Two Treatises of Government | An Essay Concerning Human Understanding—John Locke Locke is an English empiricist Enlightenment philosopher, his ideas had a strong influence on governance structures in the U.S. Locke was an early epistemologist, so his words are well chosen and noted for the fact. He had a very influential effect on later philosophers. The Two Treatises of Government deals with civil society, one's rights, property and contracts. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding deals with empiricism, fundamental ideas, innate concepts and notions such as 'color', 'good' etc. Locke had a great influence on philosophers such as Hume, Kant, Berkeley, Moore and many others. 9. The Prince—Niccolò Machiavelli He gets a bad press although he doesn't deserve it. It's questionable that he was truly 'Machiavellian' himself. Simply, The Prince is sound practical (worldly) advice to a prince about how to conduct oneself and how not be screwed by one's enemies (be wary/aware of likely enemies, avoid situations that could lead to one's dethronement). It's a very short book, just a few hours to read. 10 & 11. On Liberty | Utilitarianism—John Stuart Mill. Both books were highly influential and still are. On liberty deals with a theory of liberty—re liberty itself, also concerning political rulers, tyrants and tyranny. Utilitarianism is about utility, the notion of the greatest good for the greatest number, it still underpins the philosophy behind the running of most modern cities/states today. 12, 13 & 14. A Treatise of Human Nature | An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding | An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals—David Hume It is impossible [I almost said 'almost'] to cover these works in a couple of sentences, so I won't. At least you should know about them and what they are about. Hume is a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and much more. His works are uncannily modern and prescient nearly 300 years after they were written. He's hugely relevant to philosophy, science and culture in general; a true giant in the field. Like Locke, he was not a believer in innate ideas but rather that they come from experience (like George Berkeley's Tree in the quad arguments). He's the principle founder of philosophical induction and much more. 15. The Social Contract—Jean-Jacques Rousseau This is a great work (and fun to read). The most famous opening sentence of any philosophical work likely ever written, ancient or modern, is at the very beginning of Chapter 1: L'Homme eft né libre, and par-tout il eft dans les fers.—Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Words of great influence and they were in fact so. Those words were much the truth in 1762 and they're still pretty much true nowadays (unfortunately)! Frontispiece: https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/n7/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/n7/m... Chapter 1: https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/2/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/2/mo... It's Rousseau's most famous work. He discusses political society and conjectures all people will be free if everyone equally gives up certain rights then all accept the responsibility and obligation thrust upon them in equal measure for their own collective governance. Here, he posits the notion of the The General Will of the Citizenry, it's this that should drive legislative government. The General Will should always hold government to account, especially when it exceeds authority or legitimacy. The Social Contract was revolutionary at the time (1762), only 27 years later the French Revolution took place and Rousseau's ideas, at least in part, were influential in causing the foment that led up to it. It changed governance for the better and today we're its beneficiaries (at least so in democracies). 16. Critique of Pure Reason—Emmanuel Kant I'm hesitant to mention Kant because he can be so obscure. The trouble is that he's so influential. Kant deals with knowledge, reason, human reasoning, and empirical reason. One cannot ignore Kant or does so at his/her peril, (perhaps this book is better left until you've a fuller grasp of the subject). 17. Principia Ethica—G. E. Moore (George Edward) Prof of Phil., Cambridge, UK at turn of the 20th Century. Since it was published in 1903 Principia Ethica has had a huge influence on philosophers and still does (incl. yours truly, it was one of my early texts). ;-) It deals with the notion that certain ideas and concepts cannot reduced into simpler terms because they're already irreducible. 'Good' or 'bad' can't be reduced further as we've no way of measuring them. We know/learn what 'good' means intrinsically, so too 'very good' but we cannot measure the amount of 'good', nor can we measure how much 'very' adds to it. Here's another case: normal sighted people and those who've gone blind later in life know the colour 'yellow' as they've physically seen and perceived it, but no amount of trying will convey that perceived notion to a person blind from birth (they'll learn a conceptual understanding but can't actually perceive color as the sighted do). There's much more to Moore too: moral philosophy, etc. He was a trendsetter for much of 20th C. philosophy. 18. The Problems of Philosophy—Bertrand Russell Russell was one of the last great polymaths and a social reformer, philosopher, logician and much more (I remember him on TV when a kid). The Book discusses past philosophical problems and equates/restates them in his terms. He questions, discusses, countenances and argues over subjects such as 'what we can actually prove', 'what are causal relationships', 'what is knowledge and validation', 'what is their relationship or relative importance when considered along side metaphysics'. He further develops ideas that began (first logically codified) with Locke (or even Bacon) and continued through to Hume, Berkeley etc. He discusses the important notion of the 'sense datum' (along with G.E. Moore, A.J. Ayer, etc.). Note: 'The Problems of Philosophy' is only a little book but you are rather unlikely to digest it in just one sitting! I'd strongly recommend both Principia Ethica and The Problems of Philosophy to those studying Quantum Physics, as they deal with what is real and what we know about real things—and things that are seemingly ephemeral but are in fact real (e.g.: zero point energy, virtual particles, potentials). Grasping Russell's solid logic also gives us the mindset to tackle the 'awkward' practice—the philosophically worrying 'logic'—of renormalization and perturbation theory (Yang-Mills etc.) in Quantum Field Theory/QFT and its sibling Quantum Electrodynamics/QED. (Items 19 through 22 to follow.)

2 points by ms337 6y ago

This appears to me to be a reasonably comprehensive list to cover most of the essential HPS syllabus. What worries me about HPS is that it shouldn't be studied just on its own, as I see it traditional philosophy ought to be a prerequisite or studied concurrently. As you'll note, this list doesn't include those texts. Traditional philosophy puts the ethical and logical thinking structures (reasoning processes) in place - it supplies the framework to make HPS more understandable and cohesive. (In my opinion, both subjects are increasingly important in the modern world as developments in science, engineering and technology generally have reached such a stage of development that we cannot afford for too much to go wrong - the consequences are too great. Both phil. and HPS put things into perspective and thus can have a stabilizing influence - that is if we take them seriously and apply them properly.)

chordalkeyboard 6y ago
What are some good books and articles that you recommend to supplement this History and Philosophy of Science list?
- hilbert42 6y ago
  Oh heavens, there are so many. Let me think about it and I'll post a few titles. It would be easy to list lots but for those studying HPS it's important to make them as relevant as possible. The 'trouble' with philosophy (actually more its beauty) is that it's such wide, diverse and interesting subject that it's dead easy wander off into one of its many branches and then get sidetracked. As it is, many professional philosophers specialize in one of these branch fields (not that that's a bad thing as they've already learned the prerequisites - shortcuts don't usually work here). Although I've studied philosophy I'm not a professional philosopher (I'm in technolgy) so it's very important that I try not to mislead anyone (actually philosophy teaches you to think like that). Irrespective of any texts that I would recommend, there are two things you should do: (a) consult the syllabuses of traditional university philosophy courses, and (b) either talk to a mainstream philosopher or professional university lecturer in the subject about suitable texts or even about doing a short course in the subject (that's if you are already doing HPS). (Let me stress, identify mainstream philosophical strands first, learn from them so you don't waste time.) Let me add these points, I've always been involved with technology, science and engineering - technology has brought me my bread and butter but my studying philosophy and HPS has profoundly altered my perception of technology per se - and for that matter the world in general. In many ways it's made me a better human being simply because it teaches one to view the world from multiple perspectives and to try and think logically. (Mind you, that doesn't always work but you at least know when you've screwed up. Philosophy is a very persistent and recalcitrant rose-colored glasses remover.) Like many obsessive techies, it's easy for me to get fixated on my own specialities at the exclusion of almost everything else. Philosophy has the marvelous ability of regularly kicking me off my pedestal back down to earth. As such, I reckon both philosophy and HPS ought be compulsory short courses for both scientists and engineers at university.
- hilbert42 6y ago
  I've had two attempts to post a list and each time it was deemed too long even on the second heavy edit (perhaps I'm being penalized for too many long posts lately as this one had a considerably shorter byte count than others I've posted successfully). Anyway, it was mostly a reedited rehash of stuff that I've posted previously with a few new additions (rehashing it saved considerable time over starting from scratch). By cutting it even further it won't serve its purpose. When I've a moment I'll restructure and re-post it.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- hilbert42 6y ago
  Here's my promised list (note it's only a rough guide). As mentioned, I couldn't post earlier versions as they were too big. Even this new rehash (which was already rehashed from much older posts) is too big, so I'll post the first two thirds now and the remainder later. What's missing (compared to my initial attempt) are large sections of my commentary. For additional details use Wiki (these books are well known, hence they all should have entries). Most are out of copyright so you can download them from the I.A. (Internet Archive). 1. The Republic (Book 1 only)—Plato Begin study here; it's an excellent intro to formal argument (v. important), as it's the basis of arguing things out in logical ways. It's a dialogue between the philosopher Socrates and a sophist Thrasymachus about the meaning of justice. It's also fun to read, watching Socrates demolish Thrasymachus' selfish stance of 'every-man-for-himself' in logical sequence is like watching a chess game between a master and a cocky arrogant rookie. The book's passed the test of time, it's still in print nearly two half millennia after it was written. Use Jowett's translation, 1892 ed will do. Jowet's info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Jowett https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Jowett 2. Last Days of Socrates—Plato (Read only if you've time.) It's important in the grand scheme of Greek philosophy and the fact that Plato was affected by the execution of Socrates (his teacher). 3. Nicomachean Ethics—Aristotle (Likely too long now but essential later). Any Aristotle text is worthy of study, he's a giant in the field, his influence is still stamped all over Western culture today. Phil. is incomplete without studying him. The book's deals with ethics and how people should live their lives. 4. Meditations on First Philosophy, & etc.—René Descartes Very influential book. Initially, just read Discourse on the Method, it's about finding the truth, especially the sciences. Here, you'll find the famous phrase "I think therefore I exist/am". It also turns up in the 'related' Principles of Philosophy as Cogito, ergo sum. If you advance further, you'll be taught about breakdowns in reasoning/faulty logic and Descartes isn't immune to them either. One of his logical steps is a misstep and is famous for it—no, I won't tell you what its is. 5. Sir Francis Bacon—Rather than give specific references just get his collected essays (they're all short), select any relevant tiles to read. 6. The Leviathan—Thomas Hobbes. Herein Hobbes addresses statecraft, society, civil power government (actually very important). Written in the aftermath of the English Civil War when such matters were still raw and fluid. BTW, our modern understanding of the word commonwealth comes from Hobbes, the book's full title is: Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Common Wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil. 7 & 8. Two Treatises of Government | An Essay Concerning Human Understanding—John Locke Locke is an English empiricist Enlightenment philosopher, his ideas had a strong influence on governance structures in the U.S. Locke was an early epistemologist, so his words are well chosen and noted for the fact. He had a very influential effect on later philosophers. The Two Treatises of Government deals with civil society, one's rights, property and contracts. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding deals with empiricism, fundamental ideas, innate concepts and notions such as 'color', 'good' etc. Locke had a great influence on philosophers such as Hume, Kant, Berkeley, Moore and many others. 9. The Prince—Niccolò Machiavelli He gets a bad press although he doesn't deserve it. It's questionable that he was truly 'Machiavellian' himself. Simply, The Prince is sound practical (worldly) advice to a prince about how to conduct oneself and how not be screwed by one's enemies (be wary/aware of likely enemies, avoid situations that could lead to one's dethronement). It's a very short book, just a few hours to read. 10 & 11. On Liberty | Utilitarianism—John Stuart Mill. Both books were highly influential and still are. On liberty deals with a theory of liberty—re liberty itself, also concerning political rulers, tyrants and tyranny. Utilitarianism is about utility, the notion of the greatest good for the greatest number, it still underpins the philosophy behind the running of most modern cities/states today. 12, 13 & 14. A Treatise of Human Nature | An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding | An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals—David Hume It is impossible [I almost said 'almost'] to cover these works in a couple of sentences, so I won't. At least you should know about them and what they are about. Hume is a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and much more. His works are uncannily modern and prescient nearly 300 years after they were written. He's hugely relevant to philosophy, science and culture in general; a true giant in the field. Like Locke, he was not a believer in innate ideas but rather that they come from experience (like George Berkeley's Tree in the quad arguments). He's the principle founder of philosophical induction and much more. 15. The Social Contract—Jean-Jacques Rousseau This is a great work (and fun to read). The most famous opening sentence of any philosophical work likely ever written, ancient or modern, is at the very beginning of Chapter 1: L'Homme eft né libre, and par-tout il eft dans les fers.—Man was born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Words of great influence and they were in fact so. Those words were much the truth in 1762 and they're still pretty much true nowadays (unfortunately)! Frontispiece: https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/n7/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/n7/m... Chapter 1: https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/2/mode/2up https://archive.org/details/jducontractsocia00rous/page/2/mo... It's Rousseau's most famous work. He discusses political society and conjectures all people will be free if everyone equally gives up certain rights then all accept the responsibility and obligation thrust upon them in equal measure for their own collective governance. Here, he posits the notion of the The General Will of the Citizenry, it's this that should drive legislative government. The General Will should always hold government to account, especially when it exceeds authority or legitimacy. The Social Contract was revolutionary at the time (1762), only 27 years later the French Revolution took place and Rousseau's ideas, at least in part, were influential in causing the foment that led up to it. It changed governance for the better and today we're its beneficiaries (at least so in democracies). 16. Critique of Pure Reason—Emmanuel Kant I'm hesitant to mention Kant because he can be so obscure. The trouble is that he's so influential. Kant deals with knowledge, reason, human reasoning, and empirical reason. One cannot ignore Kant or does so at his/her peril, (perhaps this book is better left until you've a fuller grasp of the subject). 17. Principia Ethica—G. E. Moore (George Edward) Prof of Phil., Cambridge, UK at turn of the 20th Century. Since it was published in 1903 Principia Ethica has had a huge influence on philosophers and still does (incl. yours truly, it was one of my early texts). ;-) It deals with the notion that certain ideas and concepts cannot reduced into simpler terms because they're already irreducible. 'Good' or 'bad' can't be reduced further as we've no way of measuring them. We know/learn what 'good' means intrinsically, so too 'very good' but we cannot measure the amount of 'good', nor can we measure how much 'very' adds to it. Here's another case: normal sighted people and those who've gone blind later in life know the colour 'yellow' as they've physically seen and perceived it, but no amount of trying will convey that perceived notion to a person blind from birth (they'll learn a conceptual understanding but can't actually perceive color as the sighted do). There's much more to Moore too: moral philosophy, etc. He was a trendsetter for much of 20th C. philosophy. 18. The Problems of Philosophy—Bertrand Russell Russell was one of the last great polymaths and a social reformer, philosopher, logician and much more (I remember him on TV when a kid). The Book discusses past philosophical problems and equates/restates them in his terms. He questions, discusses, countenances and argues over subjects such as 'what we can actually prove', 'what are causal relationships', 'what is knowledge and validation', 'what is their relationship or relative importance when considered along side metaphysics'. He further develops ideas that began (first logically codified) with Locke (or even Bacon) and continued through to Hume, Berkeley etc. He discusses the important notion of the 'sense datum' (along with G.E. Moore, A.J. Ayer, etc.). Note: 'The Problems of Philosophy' is only a little book but you are rather unlikely to digest it in just one sitting! I'd strongly recommend both Principia Ethica and The Problems of Philosophy to those studying Quantum Physics, as they deal with what is real and what we know about real things—and things that are seemingly ephemeral but are in fact real (e.g.: zero point energy, virtual particles, potentials). Grasping Russell's solid logic also gives us the mindset to tackle the 'awkward' practice—the philosophically worrying 'logic'—of renormalization and perturbation theory (Yang-Mills etc.) in Quantum Field Theory/QFT and its sibling Quantum Electrodynamics/QED. (Items 19 through 22 to follow.)