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Seeing Things: The Philosophy of Reliable Observation
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Seeing Things: The Philosophy of Reliable Observation Hardcover - 2013

by Hudson, Robert

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  • Title Seeing Things: The Philosophy of Reliable Observation
  • Author Hudson, Robert
  • Binding Hardcover
  • Edition International Ed
  • Condition New
  • Pages 298
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Oxford University Press, USA, 2013. 298p. Hardback. Seeing Things is the first of its kind
  • Date 2013-10-01
  • Features Bibliography, Dust Cover, Index, Table of Contents
  • Bookseller's Inventory # 52GZZZ01X7R3_ns
  • ISBN 9780199303281 / 0199303282
  • Weight 1.05 lbs (0.48 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 in (21.08 x 14.48 x 3.30 cm)
  • Themes
    • Aspects (Academic): Science/Technology Aspects
  • Library of Congress subjects Science - Philosophy, Observation (Scientific method)
  • Library of Congress Catalog Number 2013001191
  • Dewey Decimal Code 001.42

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From the publisher

In Seeing Things, Robert Hudson assesses a common way of arguing about observation reports called "robustness reasoning." Robustness reasoning claims that an observation report is more likely to be true if the report is produced by multiple, independent sources. Seeing Things argues that robustness reasoning lacks the special value it is often claimed to have. Hudson exposes key flaws in various popular philosophical defenses of robustness reasoning. This philosophical critique of robustness is extended by recounting five episodes in the history of science (from experimental microbiology, atomic theory, astrophysics and astronomy) where robustness reasoning is -- or could be claimed to have been -- used. Hudson goes on to show that none of these episodes do in fact exhibit robustness reasoning. In this way, the significance of robustness reasoning is rebutted on both philosophical and historical grounds.

But the book does more than critique robustness reasoning. It also develops a better defense of the informative value of observation reports. The book concludes by relating insights into the failure of robustness reasoning to a popular approach to scientific realism called "(theoretical) preservationism." Hudson argues that those who defend this approach to realism commit similar errors to those who advocate robustness reasoning. In turn, a new form of realism is formulated and defended. Called "methodological preservationism," it recognizes the fundamental value of naked eye observation to scientists -- and the rest of us.

About the author

Robert Hudson received his Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Science from the University of Western Ontario in 1992. He has taught at a number of universities throughout North America, and has been at the University of Saskatchewan since 2001. He works mainly in the areas of epistemology and the history and philosophy of science.