ABSTRACT

What is the nature of scientific progress and what makes it possible? When we look back at the scientific theories of the past and compare them to the state of science today, there seems little doubt that we have made progress. But is it a continuous process which gradually incorporates past successes into present theories, or are entrenched theories overthrown by superior competitors in a revolutionary manner?
Theories of Scientific Progress is the ideal introduction to this topic. It is clearly organized, with suggestions for further reading that point the way to both primary texts and secondary literature. It will be essential reading for students of the history and philosophy of science.

chapter |4 pages

INTRODUCTION

part |2 pages

PART I Progress as incorporation

chapter 3|9 pages

Mill’s objections to Whewell’s historicism

On Whewell’s appeal to a priori intuitions

chapter 4|10 pages

Progress through reduction

part |2 pages

PART II Progress as revolutionary overthrow

part |2 pages

PART III Descriptive theories of scientific progress

chapter 14|1 pages

Normative and descriptive theories

chapter 18|10 pages

Normative naturalism

chapter 19|16 pages

Scientific progress and the theory of organic evolution

Toulmin on conceptual evolution