World Views

This is a brilliantly clear introduction (and indeed reframing) of the history and philosophy of science in terms of world-views and their elements. The book is structured to explain the philosophical and empirical elements of a world-view, then the transition from an Aristotelian to a Newtonian view, and finally the implications of relativity and quantum theory for the emergence of a new view. Dewitt's discussion of the continuum of empirical and 'philosophical-conceptual' facts and of the relative weight given to correspondence and coherence theories of truth is especially illuminating. These categories are frequently muddled or conflated. Much scientific resistance to parapsychology (not mentioned by Dewitt) stems from a commitment to the coherence of a materialist philosophy, while philosophical presuppositions may be interpreted as fact, i.e. as science rather than philosophy. No reader of Dewitt should make such confusions! In addition, the book is incredibly well-informed from both a scientific and philosophical angle. Highly recommended.