The Grammar of Science (19th Century British Philosophy S.) - Hardcover

Pearson, Karl

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1855061015 ISBN 13: 9781855061019

Publisher: Thoemmes Continuum, 1992

Synopsis

The author's "Grammar of Science" is the first sustained exposition, in English, of Ernst Mach's sensationalism - a philosophy of science that was to exert a major influence on the development of logical positivism. Although the physical and biological sciences are in a flourishing condition, Pearson explains, there remains doubt and confusion about their foundations - in particular, concepts such as those of matter, force and natural law seem to lend themselves to confusions of a metaphysical character. Scientific laws, Pearson insists, are not accounts of the nature and properties of things-in-themselves; rather, they are mere descriptions - in a sort of conceptual shorthand - of the "routines" of our sensations. The atoms and the ether of the physicist are mere conceptual models, ie. human creations serving a valuable role in aiding our "economy of thought", only confusion can result if we regard them as realities. The clarification of science and the elimination of metaphysics can be seen as inseparable aspects of the same project.

About this title

Book Description

This 1892 publication by the mathematician Karl Pearson (1857–1936) presents a positivist account of the nature of science. Pearson claims that 'the scientific method is the sole gateway to the whole region of knowledge'. Exploring concepts such as matter, energy, space and time, the work also includes chapter summaries.

About the Author

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Edition details

• Publisher: Thoemmes Continuum
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1855061015
• ISBN 13: 9781855061019
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 544