E. Brian Davies:Wissenschaft im Spiegelglas: Was wissen Wissenschaftler wirklich? von E. Brian Davies
- hardcover ISBN: 9780198525431
In this wide-ranging book, Brian Davies discusses the basis for scientists' claims to knowledge about the world. He rejects the claim that all scientific knowledge is provisional, by citi… More...
In this wide-ranging book, Brian Davies discusses the basis for scientists' claims to knowledge about the world. He rejects the claim that all scientific knowledge is provisional, by citing examples from chemistry, biology and geology. The Nile on eBay FREE SHIPPING UK WIDE Science in the Looking Glass by E. Brian Davies How do scientific conjectures become laws? Why does proof mean different things in different sciences? Do numbers exist, or were they invented? Why do some laws turn out to be wrong? This book brings alive issues at the heart of all science. FORMATHardcover LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher Description In this wide-ranging book, Brian Davies discusses the basis for scientists' claims to knowledge about the world. He looks at science historically, emphasizing not only the achievements of scientists from Galileo onwards, but also their mistakes. He rejects the claim that all scientific knowledge is provisional, by citing examples from chemistry, biology and geology. A major feature of the book is its defence of the view that mathematics was invented rather thandiscovered. A large number of examples are used to illustrate these points, and many of the deep issues in today's world discussed - from psychology and evolution to quantum theory, consciousness and evenreligious belief. Disentangling knowledge from opinion and aspiration is a hard task, but this book provides a clear guide to the difficulties. Author Biography E Brian Davies, Tutorial Fellow at St John's College, Oxford in 1970 and one of two editors for the Quarterly Journal of Mathematics, Oxford. Developed the theory of open quantum systems, writing a monograph on the subject, which became the standard text. Appointed to the Chair of Pure Mathematics at King's College, London in 1981 and researched heat kernels and spectral theory. Subsequently became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1995. His monograph on heatkernels, involving several hundred publications and having applications in many parts of mathematics, is the authoritative text on the subject. Founded the London Mathematical Society Student Text Series inthe 1980s, and has recently senior editor for the LMS Monographs. Has previously been a member of the National Advisory Board of the Isaac Newton Institute and sat on the Research Assessment Exercise Panel for Pure Mathematics in 2001. Published over 180 papers. Table of Contents 1: Perception and Language2: Theories of the Mind3: Arithmetic4: How Hard can Problems get?5: Pure Mathematics6: Mechanics and Astronomy7: Probability and Quantum Theory8: Is Evolution a Theory?9: Against Reductionism10: Some Final Thoughts Review `Davies is relatively rare: a mathematician prepared to blow the whistle on the inflated status of mathematics and risk the displeasure of his colleagues who have much of their psychological, disciplinary and social being invested in the subject's status.'Brian Rotman, Times Literary Supplement`E B Davies takes a down to earth, no-nonsense approach to the philosophy of science and mathematics. The book is, I believe, an important one and should be compared with Hofstadter's 'Godel, Escher, Bach' or Penrose's 'The Emperor's New Mind'.'Professor Michael Redhead, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge`The book is a straightforward and persuasive argument against reductionism, presented in many different contexts. It makes a valuable contribution to this important and much-discussed topic.'Spencer Weart, Director of History Center, American Institute of Physics`The author discusses fundamental issues that are involved in the knowledge we can gain of the external world and of the representation of that knowledge by scientific theories. It is an important subject and there is an academic market for such books to supplement and support the more technical courses in physics and general science.'Sir Alan Cook, FRS, Formerly Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge and Emeritus Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of Cambridge Long Description In this wide-ranging book, Brian Davies discusses the basis for scientists' claims to knowledge about the world. He looks at science historically, emphasizing not only the achievements of scientists from Galileo onwards, but also their mistakes. He rejects the claim that all scientific knowledge is provisional, by citing examples from chemistry, biology and geology. A major feature of the book is its defence of the view that mathematics was invented rather thandiscovered. A large number of examples are used to illustrate these points, and many of the deep issues in today's world discussed - from psychology and evolution to quantum theory, consciousness and even religious belief. Disentangling knowledge from opinion and aspiration is a hard task, but this bookprovides a clear guide to the difficulties. Review Text `Davies is relatively rare: a mathematician prepared to blow the whistle on the inflated status of mathematics and risk the displeasure of his colleagues who have much of their psychological, disciplinary and social being invested in the subject's status.'Brian Rotman, Times Literary Supplement`E B Davies takes a down to earth, no-nonsense approach to the philosophy of science and mathematics. The book is, I believe, an important one and should be compared with Hofstadter's 'Godel, Escher, Bach' or Penrose's 'The Emperor's New Mind'.'Professor Michael Redhead, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge`The book is a straightforward and persuasive argument against reductionism, presented in many different contexts. It makes a valuable contribution to this important and much-discussed topic.'Spencer Weart, Director of History Center, American Institute of Physics`The author discusses fundamental issues that are involved in the knowledge we can gain of the external world and of the representation of that knowledge by scientific theories. It is an important subject and there is an academic market for such books to supplement and support the more technical courses in physics and general science.'Sir Alan Cook, FRS, Formerly Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge and Emeritus Professor of Natural Philosophy, University of Cambridge Review Quote The value of this book for a mathematician lies in a number of mathematical examples that one can use to popularize mathematics ... an interesting and fairly exciting reading. Feature Makes important issues in the philosophy and history of science easily accessible.Uses historical examples, stories, and quotations to illustrate the ideas.Confronts widely-held perceptions of science.Engages in debate with Roger Penrose's books.Argues that mathematics was invented rather than discovered.Disentangles those aspects of evolution which are fact from those which are aspirations. Details ISBN0198525435 Author E. Brian Davies Short Title SCIENCE IN THE LOOKING GLASS Language English ISBN-10 0198525435 ISBN-13 9780198525431 Media Book Format Hardcover DEWEY 500 Year 2003 Imprint Oxford University Press Place of Publication Oxford Country of Publication United Kingdom Edition 1st Affiliation Group of Policy Advisers, European Commission DOI 10.1604/9780198525431 UK Release Date 2003-08-07 AU Release Date 2003-08-07 NZ Release Date 2003-08-07 Subtitle What do scientists really know? Illustrator Anais Goldemberg Edited by Kok Khoo Phua Birth 1927 Position Senior Lecturer Qualifications PhD Pages 308 Publisher Oxford University Press Publication Date 2003-08-07 Alternative 9780199219186 Illustrations 29 b/w line figs; 8 b/w halftone figs Audience Undergraduate We've got thisAt The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it.With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 30 DAY RETURN POLICYNo questions asked, 30 day returns! FREE DELIVERYNo matter where you are in the UK, delivery is free. SECURE PAYMENTPeace of mind by paying through PayPal and eBay Buyer Protection TheNile_Item_ID:6848262; , Neu, Festpreisangebot, [LT: FixedPrice], ISBN-13: 9780198525431, Book Title: Science in the Looking Glass, Publication Year: 2003, Type: Textbook, Format: Hardcover, Language: English, Publication Name: Science in the Looking Glass: What Do Scientists Really Know?, Item Height: 242mm, Item Width: 161mm, Subject: Science, Mathematics, Item Weight: 684g, Number of Pages: 308 Pages, Oxford University Press<
