Scientific discovery : logic and tinkering /

Kantorovich attempts both to review and to build on the considerable volume of recent writing on this topic, and presents the thesis that the creative process of discovery is not a purely rational enterprise proceeding by the rules of analysis and logical reasoning but, rather, a naturalistic process. He explores his idea that scientific creativity is dominated by tinkering, a claim he bases on an explanation of science as a continuation of biological and cultural evolution. In addition, he offers an interesting discussion of serendipitous discovery, in which a scientist trying to solve one problem unintentionally solves another. Kantorovich views the creative process as a phenomenon, with psychological and social dimensions, of particular interest to students of evolutionary epistemology. This book is not for beginners: it presupposes background in the philosophy of science and, in many cases, it covers a lot of territory briefly. Largely and quite appropriately theoretical and interdisciplinary, but more important, both original and well informed. Good bibliography and index. Advanced undergraduate through faculty. M. H. Chaplin; Wellesley College