Wesley C. Salmon's Books

Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

By: Wesley C. Salmon

The philosophical theory of scientific explanation proposed here involves a radically new treatment of causality that accords with the pervasively statistical character of contemporary science. Wesley C. Salmon describes three fundamental conceptions of scientific explanation--the epistemic, modal, and ontic. He argues that the prevailing view (a version of the epistemic conception) is untenable and that the modal conception is scientifically out-dated. Significantly revising aspects of his earlier work, he defends a causal/mechanical theory that is a version of the ontic conception. Professor Salmon's theory furnishes a robust argument for scientific realism akin to the argument that convinced twentieth-century physical scientists of the existence of atoms and molecules. To do justice to such notions as irreducibly statistical laws and statistical explanation, he offers a novel account of physical randomness. The transition from the "reviewed view" of scientific explanation (that explanations are arguments) to the causal/mechanical model requires fundamental rethinking of basic explanatory concepts.

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321

Publisher

Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691221480

ISBN 13

9780691221489

Reality and Rationality

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Reality and Rationality

By: Wesley C. Salmon

This volume of articles (most published, some new) is a follow-up to the late Wesley C. Salmon's widely read collection Causality And Explanation (OUP 1998). It contains both published and unpublished articles, and focuses on two related areas of inquiry: First, is science a rational enterprise? Secondly, does science yield objective information about our world, even the aspects that we cannot observe directly? Salmon's own take is that objective knowledge of the world is possible, and his work in these articles centers around proving that this can be so. Salmon's influential standing in the field ensures that this volume will be of interest to both undergraduates and professional philosophers, primarily in the philosophy of science.

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285

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Oxford University Press on Demand

Published Date

ISBN 10

0195181956

ISBN 13

9780195181951

Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on deductive argument--yet, Wesley C. Salmon points out, not all deductive arguments are qualified explanations. The validity of the explanation must itself be examined. "Four Decades of Scientific Explanation" provides a comprehensive account of the developments in scientific explanation that transpired in the last four decades of the twentieth century. It continues to stand as the most comprehensive treatment of the writings on the subject during these years. Building on the historic 1948 essay by Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, "Studies in the Logic of Explanation," which introduced the deductive-nomological (D-N) model on which most work on scientific explanation was based for the following four decades, Salmon goes beyond this model's inherent basis of describing empirical knowledge to tells us "not only "what, " but also "why."" Salmon examines the predominant models in chronological order and describes their development, refinement, and criticism or rejection. "Four Decades of Scientific Explanation" underscores the need for a consensus of approach and ongoing evaluations of methodology in scientific explanation, with the goal of providing a better understanding of natural phenomena.

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234

Published Date

ISBN 10

0816618259

ISBN 13

9780816618255

Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on deductive argument-yet, Wesley C. Salmon points out, not all deductive arguments are qualified explanations. The validity of the explanation must itself be examined. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation provides a comprehensive account of the developments in scientific explanation that transpired in the last four decades of the twentieth century. It continues to stand as the most comprehensive treatment of the writings on the subject during these years.Building on the historic 1948 essay by Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, "Studies in the Logic of Explanation," which introduced the deductive-nomological (D-N) model on which most work on scientific explanation was based for the following four decades, Salmon goes beyond this model's inherent basis of describing empirical knowledge to tells us "not only what, but also why." Salmon examines the predominant models in chronological order and describes their development, refinement, and criticism or rejection.Four Decades of Scientific Explanation underscores the need for a consensus of approach and ongoing evaluations of methodology in scientific explanation, with the goal of providing a better understanding of natural phenomena.

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253

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822973022

ISBN 13

9780822973027

Reality and Rationality

By: the late Wesley C. Salmon

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Reality and Rationality

By: the late Wesley C. Salmon

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304

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0190292261

ISBN 13

9780190292263

Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

By: Wesley C. Salmon

According to modern physics, many objectively improbable events actually occur, such as the spontaneous disintegration of radioactive atoms. Because of high levels of improbability, scientists are often at a loss to explain such phenomena. In this main essay of this book, Wesley Salmon offers a solution to scientific explanation based on the concept of statistical relevance (the S-R model). In this vein, the other two essays herein discuss "Statistical Relevance vs. Statistical Inference," and "Explanation and Information.

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Page Count

129

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Pre

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822974118

ISBN 13

9780822974116

Causality and Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Causality and Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

For over two decades Wesley Salmon has helped to shape the course of debate in philosophy of science. He is a major contributor to the philosophical discussion of problems associated with causality and the author of two influential books on scientific explanation. This long-awaited volume collects twenty- six of Salmon's essays, including seven that have never before been published and others difficult to find. Part I comprises five introductory essays that presuppose no formal training in philosophy of science and form a background for subsequent essays. Parts II and III contain Salmon's seminal work on scientific explanation and causality. Part IV offers survey articles that feature advanced material but remain accessible to those outside philosophy of science. Essays in Part V address specific issues in particular scientific disciplines, namely, archaeology and anthropology, astrophysics and cosmology, and physics. Clear, compelling, and essential, this volume offers a superb introduction to philosophy of science for nonspecialists and belongs on the bookshelf of all who carry out work in this exciting field. Wesley Salmon is renowned for his seminal contributions to the philosophy of science. He has powerfully and permanently shaped discussion of such issues as lawlike and probabilistic explanation and the interrelation of explanatory notions to causal notions. This unique volume brings together twenty-six of his essays on subjects related to causality and explanation, written over the period 1971-1995. Six of the essays have never been published before and many others have only appeared in obscure venues. The volume includes a section of accessible introductory pieces, as well as more advanced and technical pieces, and will make essential work in the philosophy of science readily available to both scholars and students.

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454

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

019802682X

ISBN 13

9780198026822

Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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321

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Princeton University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0691221480

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9780691221489

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

50th Anniversary Edition

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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The Foundations of Scientific Inference

50th Anniversary Edition

By: Wesley C. Salmon

After its publication in 1967, The Foundations of Scientific Inference taught a generation of students and researchers about the problem of induction, the interpretation of probability, and confirmation theory. Fifty years later, Wesley C. Salmon’s book remains one of the clearest introductions to these fundamental problems in the philosophy of science. This anniversary edition of Salmon’s foundational work features a detailed introduction by Christopher Hitchcock, which examines the book’s origins, influences, and major themes, its impact and enduring effects, the disputes it raised, and its place in current studies, revisiting Salmon’s ideas for a new audience of philosophers, historians, scientists, and students.

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298

Publisher

University of Pittsburgh Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822982943

ISBN 13

9780822982944

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

50th Anniversary Edition

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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The Foundations of Scientific Inference

50th Anniversary Edition

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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298

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University of Pittsburgh Press

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0822982943

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9780822982944

Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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129

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University of Pittsburgh Pre

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ISBN 10

0822974118

ISBN 13

9780822974116

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

By: Wesley Salmon

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The Foundations of Scientific Inference

By: Wesley Salmon

Not since Ernest Nagel’s 1939 monograph on the theory of probability has there been a comprehensive elementary survey of the philosophical problems of probablity and induction. This is an authoritative and up-to-date treatment of the subject, and yet it is relatively brief and nontechnical. Hume’s skeptical arguments regarding the justification of induction are taken as a point of departure, and a variety of traditional and contemporary ways of dealing with this problem are considered. The author then sets forth his own criteria of adequacy for interpretations of probability. Utilizing these criteria he analyzes contemporary theories of probability, as well as the older classical and subjective interpretations.

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170

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University of Pittsburgh Pre

Published Date

ISBN 10

0822971259

ISBN 13

9780822971252

Reality and Rationality

By: the late Wesley C. Salmon

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Reality and Rationality

By: the late Wesley C. Salmon

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304

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0190292261

ISBN 13

9780190292263

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

By: Wesley Salmon

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The Foundations of Scientific Inference

By: Wesley Salmon

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170

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University of Pittsburgh Pre

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ISBN 10

0822971259

ISBN 13

9780822971252

Causality and Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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Causality and Explanation

By: Wesley C. Salmon

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454

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Oxford University Press

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ISBN 10

019802682X

ISBN 13

9780198026822

Book's by Wesley C. Salmon

Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

Reality and Rationality

Reality and Rationality

Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

Four Decades of Scientific Explanation

Reality and Rationality

Reality and Rationality

Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

Causality and Explanation

Causality and Explanation

Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

Reality and Rationality

Reality and Rationality

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

The Foundations of Scientific Inference

Causality and Explanation

Causality and Explanation

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