Speculation : within and about science / Peter Achinstein.

Speculation : within and about science / Peter Achinstein.

9780190615086 (electronic book)

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, 2018.

English

1 online resource.

Q175 .A26829 2018

501

Newton urged scientists never to speculate, only to prove by establishing experimental facts. Einstein urged scientists to speculate freely, since only daring speculations, not experimental facts, can advance science. Who, if either, is right? Is speculating a legitimate part of science, even in the absence of testing? If so, can speculations be evaluated without testing? How? To answer these questions, the text begins with an attempt to define the concept of speculation, a task not usually investigated by those who express strong views about speculation. The basic idea developed in the work is that speculating involves introducing assumptions, under certain 'theorizing' conditions, without knowing that there is evidence for those assumptions.

Newton urged scientists never to speculate, only to prove by establishing experimental facts. Einstein urged scientists to speculate freely, since only daring speculations, not experimental facts, can advance science. Who, if either, is right? Is speculating a legitimate part of science, even in the absence of testing? If so, can speculations be evaluated without testing? How? To answer these questions, the text begins with an attempt to define the concept of speculation, a task not usually investigated by those who express strong views about speculation. The basic idea developed in the work is that speculating involves introducing assumptions, under certain 'theorizing' conditions, without knowing that there is evidence for those assumptions.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

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Description based on online resource; title from home page (viewed on November 9, 2018).

Oxford scholarship online.

Print version: 9780190615055

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