Beauty and Revolution in Science

James W. McAllister

Published by Cornell University Press 1999

Beauty and Revolution in Science

James W. McAllister

https://doi.org/10.7591/9781501728648

Overview
Contents

About this book

The first systematic study of the aesthetic evaluations that scientists pass on their theories.

Author / Editor information

James W. McAllister is University Lecturer in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Leiden.

Reviews

Marx W. Wartofsky, Baruch College:

An outstanding contribution to a little developed aspect of the philosophy and history of science.

This is a great book. It clearly and concisely does what it sets out to do: it examines the basic philosophical and sociological theories of the role of aesthetics in science, it identifies the critical assumptions and contradictions that differentiate these views, and it provides a carefully reasoned, well-documented and novel approach to the issues. Best of all, the book is eminently readable. Anyone interested in the bases of scientific controversies, the nature of scientific revolutions, or the similarities and differences between the sciences and the arts should definitely read McAllister's book. It may prove to be as fundamental as Thomas S. Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions.

A valuable, important, persuasively argued book. Highly recommended.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Illustrations Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. Two Challenges to Rationalism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
2. Abstract Entities and Aesthetic Evaluations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	24
3. The Aesthetic Properties of Scientific Theories Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	39
4. Two Erroneous Views of Scientists' Aesthetic Judgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
5. The Inductive Construction of Aesthetic Preference Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	70
6. The Relation of Beauty to Truth Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	90
7. A Study of Simplicity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
8. Revolution as Aesthetic Rupture Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	125
9. Induction and Revolution in the Applied Arts Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
10. Circles and Ellipses in Astronomy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
11. Continuity and Revolution in Twentieth-Century Physics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	182
12. Rational Reasons for Aesthetic Choices Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	202
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227

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