Many of the selections included are readily available, but the editor has earned our gratitude for reprinting the series of seven papers read before the Aristotelian Society from 1915-1923, and for making readily accessible the 1927 essay, "Time." The somewhat lengthy introduction adds little to the value of the book, and is occasionally inaccurate. --B. J. H.

Sherburne has the two-fold purpose of framing an aesthetic theory which gains its coherence and clarity by its derivation from a speculative system, and of exploring the adequacy of that system by applying it to one dimension of experience. He begins by developing clearly the categorial notions of Whitehead's mature philosophy and exhibiting them as integral parts of the speculative scheme, and in some cases revising and reformulating them significantly. Using this material, he then frames an aesthetic theory treating such (...) questions as the ontological status of a work of art, aesthetic experience, and artistic creation. A well-written study that illuminates some of the more difficult aspects of Whitehead's thought, and contributes to the discussion of the metaphysical issues of aesthetics.--B. J. H. (shrink)

Twenty-four scientists and philosophers contribute to this volume, which constitutes the proceedings of the 1959 meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Six symposia deal with theory construction; empirical and conventional elements in physical theory; induction, probability and simplicity; the logic of variables and constants; philosophical issues of quantum theory; and the methodology of psychology and the social sciences. Many of the contributions are excellent; most deal with controversial issues, and generate considerable life in the discussions and (...) commentaries.--B. J. H. (shrink)

This historico-critical analysis of the concept of mass is the third in Jammer's series of studies of fundamental physical concepts. His fascinating account traces its intricate historical evolution from early notions of matter and the medieval concept of mass as quantitas materiae to the dynamic conceptions of mass. The concept is followed through the three stages of conceptualization ; systematization ; and formalization. Jammer further treats mass in relation to the electromagnetic theories; special and general relativity; quantum mechanics and the (...) theory of elementary particles; and the modern "space-theories" of matter. He concludes that no final clarification of the concept has yet been attained, despite the efforts of both physicists and philosophers. This difficult material is handled with great scholarship and control, skillfully interpreted, and concisely presented --B. J. H. (shrink)

In this introduction to social problems, sixteen social scientists discuss the major forms of deviant behavior and social disorganization. The introduction attempts to elicit the general theoretical orientation which is implicit in the specialized studies making up the main body of the book.--B. J. H.

In this inaugural address, a professor of applied mathematics develops the theme that new concepts such as "entropy" introduced in the mathematical description of nature have an influence far beyond the mathematical sciences, extending to such diverse fields as biology, the social sciences, religion, philosophy, literary analysis, etc.--B. J. H.

Taking as its central question, "How do bodies act on one another across space?", this book traces the answers which have been given from the Pre-Socratics to current physical theory. The basic thought guiding the discussion is that the conceived mode of action between bodies is a general property exhibited by the model of a current physical theory. The study is rich in primary material, and carefully documented throughout; it fulfills a long-felt need for a thorough and careful treatment of (...) this subject.--B. J. H. (shrink)

Rejecting the idea that the principal aim of science is prediction, the author claims that science tries to create an explanatory intelligible system "with some legitimate claim to reality"; he argues that the intellectual framework within which this construction proceeds is revealed more by its presuppositions and its "explanatory paradigms" or "ideals of natural order" than by its detailed results. Comparing the dynamical theories of Aristotle, Galileo, and Newton, he asks which occurrences are "phenomena" for these theories, i.e., deviations from (...) the expected standard manner in which bodies move. He concludes that to explain a phenomenon is to show that it is a special case of, or a complex combination of, paradigms taken as fundamental, and that theories are not to be judged as true or false, but as helpful, fruitful, misleading, and the like. --B. J. H. (shrink)

This lucid and compact book contains a forceful critique of the "wave-particle duality" interpretations of quantum theory, and a unitary particle theory which explains the quantum rules in terms of non-quantal axioms. To speak of a wave-particle duality, says Landé, is to speak of an abstraction and a real thing as if they were on a level of parity; and he takes Born's statistical interpretation of quantum phenomena as evidence that a unitary particle theory is needed. The problem then is (...) to explain why particles obey quantum laws of interference and h-dominated periodicity. Although much of the book assumes knowledge of mathematics and physics, many sections require no scientific background; and in the more technical sections there are frequent summaries which state the arguments and conclusions in a non-mathematical way. An incisive and provocative work which deserves to be widely read.--B. J. H. (shrink)

A survey of contemporary physical science, and an attempt to envision a philosophy in harmony with it. The discussion of physics centers on three topics: the status of postulates and first principles; the movement away from limited forms of empiricism toward the acknowledgment of aesthetic and metaphysical considerations in framing theories; and the disappearance of mechanical models in favor of increasingly abstract mathematical formulations. The exposition of physical theory is lively and imaginative; the treatment of the more properly philosophical problems (...) is stimulating, but will often leave the reader wishing for a more searching analysis.--B. J. H. (shrink)

Primarily a source book for introductory courses in epistemology, this book presents a good selection of most of the essential readings in basic epistemology. Critical notes are offered mainly from an Aristotelian-Thomistic standpoint.--D. P. B.

The essays included are somewhat uneven in value; some advance interpretations and criticisms, others are mainly expositional. Various aspects of Whitehead's later thought are discussed: the doctrine of feelings, actual occasions, causal efficacy, symbolic reference, mathematics, and the philosophy of history. Hartshorne's philosophy is examined in a seventh essay by Andrew Reck.--B. J. H.

A series of five lectures delivered at Yale University, this book discusses the historical and technological roots of natural science, its present organization, and its probable future in our scientific civilization. A particularly good chapter on the "Diseases of Science" discusses some of the problems of science's internal economy--its increasing specialization, the exponential growth rate of scientific publications, and the consequent difficulties for scientific education and research. A fascinating and well-written account.--B. J. H.

A discussion of "the time-concept" which depends heavily upon physical theory for its basis and conclusions. Within these limits, it is thorough, careful, and sometimes illuminating. The physical meanings of "direction" and "irreversibility" of time are thoroughly explored; the relation of time to entropy is discussed, as well as the concept of time in relativity and quantum theory. The principal original contribution of the book is its suggested distinction between "Lorentz-" and "Clausius-processes" as a means for solving the clock problems (...) of special relativity. --B. J. H. (shrink)

This is a book in "theoretical chronometry," a study of the time-concept in its widest scope. It includes discussions of the physiological, psycho logical, and sociological aspects of time. While the treatment of large philosophical issues is sometimes too easy, the author has incorporated an enormous body of material.--B. J. H.

A clear presentation and exploration of the philosophical implications of the classical picture of the physical world and the ways in which contemporary physics has changed it. Capek argues that physics has now moved from a universe governed by a "timeless world formula" toward a world which is irreversible and incomplete, where "becoming has been re-instated." The author's careful attention to the differences between the special and general theories of relativity helps to clear up important misconceptions about the space-time continuum (...) and the "dilatation" of time. Capek is more successful in explaining and clarifying physics than he is in assessing its precise philosophic impact.--B. J. H. (shrink)

The second in the series from the Philosophy of Science Institute at St. John's University, this volume contains four essays by guest lecturers at the Institute, and provides "a summary introduction to the leading Thomistic philosophies of science in vogue today among those who believe that the philosophy of nature has an autonomy of its own, and is not applied metaphysics." The papers include an essay on Maritain's philosophy of science; a discussion of the Bohr atom; and examinations of scientific (...) method, and the subject-matter of the philosophy of nature.--B. J. H. (shrink)

Fourteen contributors present papers treating a wide variety of subjects. The treatments range from exposition, through sympathetic enlargement and development, to more critical explorations and the formulation of alternative views.--B. J. H.

This study in the philosophy of science analyzes "the logic of scientific inquiry and the logical structure of its intellectual products." The author distinguishes four patterns of scientific explanation: the deductive model, probabilistic explanation, functional and teleological explanation, and genetic explanation. The structure and application of each is explored with respect to some of the more specialized areas of science. Many of the traditional problems of philosophy of science are discussed, and there are excellent treatments of the methodology of the (...) social sciences and historical explanation. A large and important book, presenting a vast amount of material handled in an incisive manner.--B. J. H. (shrink)