Reliable Knowledge: An Exploration of the Grounds for Belief in Science

Ziman, John M.

ISBN 10: 0521220874 / ISBN 13: 9780521220873

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1979

About this Item

Description:
An examination of the foundations and reliability of scientific knowledge by physicist and philosopher of science John M. Ziman. The author considers how observation, language, logic, models, paradigms, analogy, and scientific consensus influence what is accepted as reliable knowledge. Illustrated with 28 figures. ix, 197 pages.

Detailed Condition:
Good hardcover without dust jacket. Red cloth boards show rubbing, uneven discoloration, scattered spots, and handling marks. Corners and spine ends have light wear. Gilt spine lettering remains bright and legible. Binding appears sound. Page edges show light age-toning. Interior pages appear clean, with no writing or highlighting visible.

Shipping / Returns:
Carefully packed and shipped with tracking. Thirty-day returns accepted in accordance with AbeBooks policies.
SCI 5a.

Seller Inventory # ABE-1789073377419

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Reliable Knowledge: An Exploration of the Grounds for Belief in Science
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 1979
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521220874
• ISBN 13: 9780521220873
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Dimensions: 5.98W x 8.98H x 0.71D inches 5.98 inches width by 8.98 inches height by 0.71 inches depth
• Weight: 0.106 pounds
• Seller catalogs:
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Sociology

About this title

Synopsis

Why believe in the findings of science? John Ziman argues that scientific knowledge is not uniformly reliable, but rather like a map representing a country we cannot visit. He shows how science has many elements, including alongside its experiments and formulae the language and logic, patterns and preconceptions, facts and fantasies used to illustrate and express its findings. These elements are variously combined by scientists in their explanations of the material world as it lies outside our everyday experience. John Ziman's book offers at once a valuably clear account and a radically challenging investigation of the credibility of scientific knowledge, searching widely across a range of disciplines for evidence about the perceptions, paradigms and analogies on which all our understanding depends.

Book Description

A challenging investigation of the reliability of scientific knowledge results in a revealing exploration of worldly perception--and surprising connections between scientific methods and everyday understanding.