Monthly Archives: December 2009
Some more on Toulmin
The History of the Philosophy of Science list has been unusually active, and even more unusually fairly restrained and complimentary, in discussing Stephen Toulmin’s significance. One point, made by Avner Cohen, is that Toulmin himself had given an assessment of … Continue reading
Filed under General Science, Philosophy, Science
A positive review
This is the first review of my book actually published that I know of. If anyone else sees one, let me know, OK? Review by Diane Beechinor at National Science Teachers Association.
Filed under Book, Species concept
Leiter on Nagel on Meyer
Brian Leiter gets it 100% right on Thomas Nagel’s ignorant review of the book by Stephen Meyer, of the intelligent design marketing agency, the Discovery [sic] Institute. Go read…
Filed under Creationism and Intelligent Design, Philosophy
Toulmin dies
One of my earliest and longest-lasting influences, Stephen Toulmin, has died. There is an obituary here [Hat tip Mata Kimasitayo]. People know many aspects of Toulmin’s works, but the one that most strongly influenced me was his evolutionary philosophy of … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy
Sausages, and science
One should not see, goes the old saw, laws or sausages being made. This is also true of science, for a reason. Before something is published, scientists argue, insult each other, discuss things in casual ways and use unclear jargon … Continue reading
Filed under Epistemology, Ethics and Moral Philosophy, General Science, Humor, Philosophy, Science
I’m traveling and moving… again.
So for the next week or so I will be either in New Zealand at a conference or moving to Queensland. I cannot say how much internet I will have at my disposal in that time, so the best I … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative
Sewall Wright on emergence
I came across this passage while looking at the philosophical problem of emergent properties (which I think are purely epistemic). I thought it would be good to put up here…
Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, History, Philosophy, Quotes
Copernicus did not demote humanity
Stephen Jay Gould was fond of observing that of the two revolutions identified by Freud as having dethroned humanity – Copernicus, and Darwin’s – that Darwin’s was the more revolutionary, because (as he put it) Copernicus and Galileo merely changed … Continue reading
Filed under History, Philosophy, Science
