Review - Science
Key Concepts in Philosophy
by Steven French
Continuum, 2007
Review by Richa Yadav, Ph.D.
Sep 30th 2008 (Volume 12, Issue 40)

The book is a very concise introduction to the philosophy of science. If a layperson asks us to distinguish Science from other disciplines, our reply would be that science is based on facts. However, the author brings an interesting point that we need to develop a scientific temper, not only by looking for facts, but also by making an attempt to understand the laws which govern those facts. This suggests that 'facts' are not to be taken as bedrock of science. For the progress of science it is important to be open to the idea that our facts may undergo a change or they may be used to falsify our theories. The author discusses key concepts in philosophy like discovery, heuristics, justification, observation, experiment and their bearing on science and its methodology. He has also introduced some study exercises after some of the chapters. First, he describes the scientific approach, and then asks the readers, giving a situation, to give their own explanation. Then he questions whether the explanation which the readers offer is different from the already existing scientific explanation, and if yes, how and why. This is a good exercise to begin coming up with our own observations and explanations. The questions he raises for the readers are quite thought provoking, but it does not lead anywhere. The author does not address them in detail later.

The central idea of the book is that we should not forget that scientific observations cannot be fallible. The author quotes Popper in this context, "the empirical basis of objective science has nothing 'absolute' about it. Science does not rest upon bedrock. The bold structure of its theories rises, as it were, above a swamp. It is like a building erected on piles. The piles are driven down from above into the swamp, but not down to any natural or given base; and if we stop driving the piles deeper, it is not because we have reached firm ground. We simply stop when we are satisfied that the piles are firm enough to carry the structure at least for the time being". (p. 69) observations are guided by theories but not limited to it. Observation and experiments are in general, revisable. The author argues that because observation and scientific experiment involves an active engagement and intervention with the world, so we can say that objectivity in science is a practical achievement. (p. 75)

The philosophical questions raised by the history and practice of science are among the most complex and stimulating. And the book elaborates on how the philosophy of science inquires into such matters as scientific reasoning, scientific explanation, the nature and value of scientific knowledge, progress in science, and the debate between realist and anti-realist views of science. However, the ideas which the book proposes and the issues which it addresses can be appreciated only if one has a background in philosophy. Each chapter is replete with examples but the presentation is too complicated, therefore difficult for a beginner. As mentioned above, there are four Study Exercises that probe students' understanding of the material and challenge them to think about further issues associated with the material. These questions could serve as a starting point for a classroom discussion, or even as potential topics for student essays.

© 2008 Richa Yadav

Richa Yadav recently completed her PhD in philosophy of mind from IIT, Kanpur, India. Her dissertation is on individuation of mental states, with especial reference to the individualist and the non-individualist debate. Her research interest lies in philosophical issues in cognitive science, philosophy of language, epistemology, ethics, translation studies and metaphors. She is also a creative writer.