Conceptual Revolutions
Conceptual Revolutions by Paul Thagard, published by Princeton University Press in 1993, is a reprint edition comprising 285 pages. This work explores the intersections of the history and philosophy of science, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence to present a theory of conceptual change that addresses major scientific revolutions. Thagard analyzes significant historical shifts in scientific thought, illustrating how entire systems of concepts have been replaced by new frameworks.
Readers will find a detailed examination of pivotal scientific transformations, including the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions, as well as the development of Newton’s mechanics and Einstein’s theory of relativity. Thagard delves into the psychological mechanisms that facilitate the formation of new concepts and their interconnections, proposing a computational theory of explanatory coherence to evaluate the superiority of new theories over their predecessors. This edition offers a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of scientific conceptual systems, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the philosophy of science and its social implications.
Official synopsis Publisher
In this path-breaking work, Paul Thagard draws on the history and philosophy of science, cognitive psychology, and the field of artificial intelligence to develop a theory of conceptual change capable of accounting for all major scientific revolutions. The history of science contains dramatic episodes of revolutionary change in which whole systems of concepts have been replaced by new systems. Thagard provides a new and comprehensive perspective on the transformation of scientific conceptual systems.
Thagard examines the Copernican and the Darwinian revolutions and the emergence of Newton’s mechanics, Lavoisier’s oxygen theory, Einstein’s theory of relativity, quantum theory, and the geological theory of plate tectonics. He discusses the psychological mechanisms by which new concepts and links between them are formed, and advances a computational theory of explanatory coherence to show how new theories can be judged to be superior to previous ones.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Conceptual Revolutions” about?
Who is the author of “Conceptual Revolutions”?
When was “Conceptual Revolutions” published?
What is the ISBN for “Conceptual Revolutions”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
