Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents an investigation of the epistemology of visual representations in science. The developments in the domain of information technology have drastically simplified the task of producing and distributing images. The book analyses the functional roles of visual representations in the scientific processes of acquiring and distributing information. It investigate the epistemic status that can be attributed to these images in comparison with other representational means such as linguistic expressions. The book examines the fact that visualisations are not only diverse with regard to their appearances, but also with respect to their functional roles. It considers the question of the epistemic status of scientific images. The book focuses on scientific practices and highlights the social setting of science in which visual representations play a role.