This book both introduces the philosophy of science through examination of the occult and examines the occult rigorously enough to raise central issues in the philosophy of science. Placed in the context of the occult, philosophy of science issues become immediately understandable and forcefully compelling.
Divergent views on astrology, parapsychology, and quantum mechanics mysticism emphasize topics standard to the philosophy of science. Such issues as confirmation and selection for testing, causality and time, explanation and the nature of scientific laws, the status of theoretical entities, the problem of demarcation, theory and observation, and science and values are discussed.
Significantly revised, this second edition presents an entirely new section of quantum mechanics and mysticism including instructions from N. David Mermin for constructing a device which dramatically illustrates the genuinely puzzling phenomena of quantum mechanics. A more complete and current review of research on astrology has been included in this new edition, and the section on the problem of demarcation has been broadened.
Mục lục
Preface to the Revised Edition
General Introduction
SECTION I. ASTROLOGY
Introduction
Objections to Astrology: A Statement by 186 Leading Scientists
The Strange Case of Astrology
Paul Feyerabend
On Dismissing Astrology and Other Irrationalities
Edward W. James
Spheres of Influence
Michel Gauquelin
Astrology: A Critical Review
I. W. Kelly, G. A. Dean, and D. H. Saklofske
Suggested Readings
SECTION II. SCIENCE OR PSEUDOSCIENCE?: THE PROBLEM OF DEMARCATION
Introduction
Winning through Pseudoscience
Clark Glymour and Douglas Stalker
Science: Conjectures and Refutations
Karl R. Popper
Demarcating Genuine Science from Pseudoscience
Daniel Rothbart
Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?
Thomas S. Kuhn
The Popperian versus the Kuhnian Research Programme
Imre Lakatos
Kuhn, Popper, and the Normative Problem of Demarcation
Robert Feleppa
The Conservatism of ‘Pseudoscience’
Roger Cooter
Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos: A Crisis of Modern Intellect
Robert F. Baum
Suggested Readings
SECTION III. PARAPSYCHOLOGY
Introduction
Parapsychology: An Empirical Science
Ruth Reinsel
Coincidence and Explanation
Galen K. Pletcher
Pararpsychology: Science or Pseudoscience?
Antony Flew
Philosophical Difficulties with Paranormal Knowledge Claims
Jane Duran
Precognition and the Paradoxes of Causality
Bob Brier and Maithili Schmidt-Raghavan
Second Report on a Case of Experimenter Fraud
J. B. Rhine
Suggested Readings
SECTION IV: QUANTUM MYSTICISM
Introduction
Conflicting Notes from Einstein and Bohr
The Unity of All Things
Fritjof Capra
Einstein Doesn’t Like It
Gary Zukav
The Yogi and the Quantum
Robert P. Crease and Charles C. Mann
Quantum Mysteries for Anyone
N. David Mermin
Mind, Matter, and Quantum Mechanics
Marshall Spector
Suggested Readings
SECTION V. OTHER APPROACHES TO THE OCCULT
Introductin
Notes on Mysticism and Nitrous Oxide
William James
Tacit Assumptions
Edward Conze
Scientific and Other Values
Patrick Grim
Suggested Readings
Index
Giới thiệu về tác giả
Patrick Grim is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Master’s Program in Philosophy at State University of New York at Stony Brook. He has published several articles dealing with philosophical and ethical questions.
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