Drifting Continents and Colliding Paradigms: Perspectives on the Geoscience Revolution

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Indiana University Press, May 22, 1990 - Science - 285 pages

"The book provides an excellent historical summary of the debates over continental drift theory in this century." —Contemporary Sociology

"This is a useful discussion of the way that science works. The book will be of value to philosophers of science . . . " —Choice

" . . . will find an important place in university and department libraries, and will interest afficionados of the factual and intellectual history of the earth sciences." —Terra Nova

" . . . an excellent core analysis . . . " —The Times Higher Education Supplement

" . . . an ambitious and important contribution to the new sociology of science." —American Journal of Sociology

" . . . Stewart's book is a noble effort, an interesting and readable discussion, and another higher notch on the scoreboard of critical scholarship that deserves wide examination and close attention." —Geophysics

This fascinating book describes the rise and fall and rebirth of continental drift theory in this century. It uses the recent revolution in geoscientinsts' beliefs about the earth to examine questions such as, How does scientific knowledge develop and change? The book also explores how well different perspectives help us to understand revolutionary change in science.

 

Contents

Perspectives on Scientific Revolutions
1
The Rise and Fall of Continental Drift Theory
22
19451959
45
Its Origin Development and Opponents
72
Philosophical and Historical Perspectives
124
Social Perspectives on DecisionMaking in Science
162
Quantitative Studies
216
Reflections
239
Postscript
249
Bibliography
263
Index
279
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