French Studies in the Philosophy of Science. Contemporary Research in France

This book's aim is to bring together philosophers and practicing scientists from the major institutions of the country, both universities and research centers. The areas of research represented here cover a wide spectrum of sciences, from mathematics and physics to the life sciences, as well as linguistics and economics. This selection is a showcase of French philosophy of science, illustrating the different methods employed: logico-linguistic analysis, rational reconstruction and historical inquiry. These participants have the ability to relate their research both to the French tradition and current discussions on the international scene. Also included is a substantial historical introduction, explaining the development of philosophy of science in France, the various schools of thought and methods as well as the major concepts and their significance. – Table of Contents : – Introduction (Anastasios Brenner and Jean Gayon); – Part I. Styles in Philosophy of Science and Technology (1. Anne Fagot-Largeault: The Legend of Philosophy’s Striptease: Trends in Philosophy of Science; 2. Daniel Parrochia: French Philosophy of Technology); – Part II. General Philosophy of Science (3. Anastasios Brenner : A Problem in General Philosophy of Science: The Rational Criteria of Choice; 4. Sandra Laugier: Science and Realism: The Legacy of Duhem and Meyerson in Contemporary American Philosophy of Science); – Part III. Physical and Chemical Sciences (5. Gilles Cohen-Tannoudji: Philosophy and 20th Century Physics; 6. Hervé Zwirn: Foundations of Physics: The Empirical Blindness; 7. Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent: Philosophy of Chemistry); – Part IV. Life Sciences (8. François Dagognet: Pharmacology as a Philosophical Object; 9. Jean Gayon: Philosophy of Biology: An Historico-critical Characterization; 10. Claude Debru: Philosophy and Contemporary Biological Research); – Part V. Philosophy of the Behavorial and Cognitive Sciences (11. Joëlle Proust: What Is a Mental Function ?; 12. Daniel Andler: Philosophy of Cognitive Science); – Part VI. Philosophy of Economics (13. Philippe Mongin: Duhemian Themes in Expected Utility Theory). – Notes on the Authors; – Name Index. M.-M. V.