The Foundations of Science (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

William Cecil Dampier

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0267625162 ISBN 13: 9780267625161

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

How do we know what we know, and how can science build a reliable picture of reality?

This book explores how knowledge is formed, from direct experience to the ideas we learn by description and logic. It examines competing views in philosophy, the role of intuition in mathematics, and how scientific theories gain or lose certainty over time. A clear, accessible guide to the questions behind physics, biology, and the pursuit of a unified view of nature.

In accessible chapters, the author traces the shift from ancient to modern methods, showing how observation, experiment, and logical reasoning shape our understanding. It explains how mathematics and symbols help us reason about relationships that go beyond any single object, and how this underpins the sciences’ search for a consistent model of phenomena. The text also discusses how empirical evidence and theoretical assumptions interact as science advances.

• Distinguishes knowledge by experience from knowledge by description and from intuitive mathematics
• Explains how logic, symbols, and universal ideas relate to real-world science
• Connects historical advances in physics and biology to the growth of scientific method
• Shows how theory and experiment work together to test and refine our understanding

Ideal for curious readers who want a solid, non-technical grounding in how science constructs its explanations and why certainty varies across disciplines.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0267625162
• ISBN 13: 9780267625161
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 101