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Science in the Looking Glass E. Brian Davies (Department of Mathematics, King's College, London)

Science in the Looking Glass By E. Brian Davies (Department of Mathematics, King's College, London)

Science in the Looking Glass by E. Brian Davies (Department of Mathematics, King's College, London)


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Summary

How do scientific conjectures become laws? Why do some laws turn out to be wrong? Why does proof mean different things in different sciences? Experience shows that disentangling scientific knowledge from opinion is harder than one might expect. Full of illuminating examples and quotations, this book brings alive issues at the heart of all science.

Science in the Looking Glass Summary

Science in the Looking Glass: What Do Scientists Really Know? by E. Brian Davies (Department of Mathematics, King's College, London)

How do scientific conjectures become laws? Why does proof mean different things in different sciences? Do numbers exist, or were they invented? Why do some laws turn out to be wrong? In this wide-ranging book, Brian Davies discusses the basis for scientists' claims to knowledge about the world. He looks at science historically, emphasizing not only the achievements of scientists from Galileo onwards, but also their mistakes. He rejects the claim that all scientific knowledge is provisional, by citing examples from chemistry, biology and geology. A major feature of the book is its defence of the view that mathematics was invented rather than discovered. While experience has shown that disentangling knowledge from opinion and aspiration is a hard task, this book provides a clear guide to the difficulties. Full of illuminating examples and quotations, and with a scope ranging from psychology and evolution to quantum theory and mathematics, this book brings alive issues at the heart of all science.

Science in the Looking Glass Reviews

Review from previous edition An original and superbly intelligent attempt by someone who knows and loves the subject, to challenge the misconceptions and transcendental mysteries that cling so beguilingly to mathematics... accessible, non-technical style... fresh and exhilarating. * Brian Rotman, Times Literary Supplement *
Science in the Looking Glass is worth reading in your leisure time. It is stimulating even when you disagree with the author. * Physics Today *
...it is a brilliant work, beautifully written, and brimming with surprising information and stimulating philosophical speculations. * Notices of the AMS *
I highly recommend this book and hope that it is widely read by scientists and laypeople alike. * Bill Rowe, American Journal of Psychology *

About E. Brian Davies (Department of Mathematics, King's College, London)

Professor E. B. Davies Department of Mathematics King's College London

Table of Contents

1. Perception and Language ; 2. Theories of the Mind ; 3. Arithmetic ; 4. How Hard can Problems get? ; 5. Pure Mathematics ; 6. Mechanics and Astronomy ; 7. Probability and Quantum Theory ; 8. Is Evolution a Theory? ; 9. Against Reductionism ; 10. Some Final Thoughts

Additional information

GOR013283273
9780199219186
0199219184
Science in the Looking Glass: What Do Scientists Really Know? by E. Brian Davies (Department of Mathematics, King's College, London)
Used - Like New
Paperback
Oxford University Press
20070628
306
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
The book has been read, but looks new. The book cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket is included if applicable. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins

Customer Reviews - Science in the Looking Glass