Review by Choice Review
This collection of 15 essays is advertised as an introduction or overview; however, it is anything but widely accessible. The authors were selected by Machamer (Univ. of Pittsburgh) and Silberstein (Elizabethtown College) for their knowledge of recent developments within narrow topics. All have delivered robust and reference-laden gems. Although only advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and academics having a good measure of familiarity with key terms and concepts can begin to profit, what a treasure awaits! The first five essays are general in nature: "A Brief Historical Introduction to Philosophy of Science," "Philosophy of Science: Classic Debates, Standard Problems, Future Prospects," "Explanation," "Structures of Scientific Theories," and "Reduction, Emergence, and Explanation." Other essays ("Models, Metaphors and Analogies," "Experiment and Observation," "Induction and Probability," "Philosophy of Space-Time Physics," "Interpreting Quantum Physics," "Evolution," "Molecular and Developmental Biology," "Cognitive Science," "Social Sciences," and "Feminist Philosophies of Science") are excellent resources for discovering cutting-edge work. The extensive lists of references to the best work of the past 60 years are enough to justify purchase of this book. Useful for upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers in philosophy and the sciences. J. R. Shook Oklahoma State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
