Understanding Scientific Progress: Aim-Oriented Empiricism

Science makes astonishing progress in improving our knowledge and understanding of the world but philosophers, by contrast, have made no progress at all in explaining how this progress is possible, despite centuries of effort. Some of the world's greatest thinkers, from Hume, Kant and Mill to Russell and Popper, have struggled to solve philosophical problems about scientific progress, and have failed. Even Einstein confessed he was baffled by the problem of what it means to say of a physical theory that it is "unified", "explanatory", or in possession of what he called "inner perfection". This book sets out to solve the eight most fundamental philosophical problems about scientific progress. These include the problem of induction, the problem of what it means to say of a physical theory that it is "unified", and the problem of specifying precisely what the progress-achieving methods of science are. The enhanced understanding of scientific progress that this provides has important implications both for science, and for our attempts to achieve progress in other areas of human life where progress is urgently needed and much less assured-above all, in the effort to achieve social progress towards a better, wiser world.

About the Author :
Nicholas Maxwell has devoted much of my working life to arguing that we need to bring about a revolution in academia so that it seeks and promotes wisdom and does not just acquire knowledge. He has published eight books on this theme. He has also published many papers on such diverse subjects as the philosophy of the natural and social sciences, the humanities, evolution, quantum theory, causation, the mind-body problem, aesthetics, and moral philosophy. For thirty years he taught philosophy of science at University College London, where he is now Emeritus Reader.

Review :
Maxwell takes up the philosophical challenge of how natural science makes progress and provides a superb treatment of the problem in terms of the contrast between traditional conceptions and his own scientifically-informed theory--aim-oriented empiricism. This clear and rigorously-argued work deserves the attention of scientists and philosophers alike, especially those who believe that it is the accumulation of knowledge and technology that answers the question.--Leemon McHenry, California State University, Northridge Quotations from reviews of Maxwell's previous work, From Knowledge to Wisdom: "Maxwell is advocating nothing less than a revolution (based on reason, not on religious or Marxist doctrine) in our intellectual goals and methods of inquiry... . There are altogether too many symptoms of malaise in our science-based society for Nicholas Maxwell's diagnosis to be ignored." -Professor Christopher Longuet-Higgins, Nature "A humanist and philosopher, Maxwell presents his ideas with eloquence and conviction. This book will appeal to persons in many different disciplines-from science to social studies." -American Library Association Maxwell's Aim-Oriented Empiricism is a very significant contribution to the philosophy of science. --Alan Sokal, professor of physics, New York University Maxwell has distilled the finest essence of the scientific enterprise. Science is about making the world a better place. Sometimes science loses its way. The future depends on scientists doing the right things for the right reasons. Maxwell's Aim-Oriented Empiricism is a map to put science back on the right track.--Timothy McGettigan, Professor of Sociology, Colorado State University - Pueblo This is a book about the very core problems of the philosophy of science. The idea of replacing Standard Empiricism with Aim-Oriented Empiricism is understood by Maxwell as the key to the solution of these central problems. Maxwell handles his main tool masterfully, producing a fascinating and important reading to his colleagues in the field. However, Nicholas Maxwell is much more than just a philosopher of science. In the closing part of the book he lets the reader know about his deep concern and possible solutions of the biggest problems humanity is facing.--Professor Peeter Müürsepp, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia This call for a transformation of the way science is conducted and understood sets forth the ambitious, lifelong project of untangling eight interrelated constitutional problems of scientific progress. ... The philosophical arguments are clearly set forth, and the book should appeal to all academics, not just scientists and philosophers of science. --L. C. Archie, Lander University in Choice: September 2017 Vol. 55 No. 1 Maxwell - now 80 - has been contributing to the philosophy of science for 50 years, and nearly 50 of his articles are cited in the bibliography. His 1984 book, From Knowledge to Wisdom was favourably reviewed in Nature, and the reviewer, Christopher Longuet-Higgins, described his work as revolutionary in terms of our intellectual goals and methods of enquiry and that there were too many symptoms of malaise in our science-based society for Maxwell's diagnosis to be ignored.--Paradigm Explorer