Author: Daniel Rothbart Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 0252056248 Category : Philosophy Languages : en Pages : 184
Book Description
The surprising roles of instruments and experimentation in acquiring knowledge In Philosophical Instruments Daniel Rothbart argues that our tools are not just neutral intermediaries between humans and the natural world, but are devices that demand new ideas about reality. Just as a hunter's new spear can change their knowledge of the environment, so can the development of modern scientific equipment alter our view of the world. Working at the intersections of science, technology, and philosophy, Rothbart examines the revolution in knowledge brought on by recent advances in scientific instruments. Full of examples from historical and contemporary science, including electron scanning microscopes, sixteenth-century philosophical instruments, and diffraction devices used by biochemical researchers, Rothbart explores the ways in which instrumentation advances a philosophical stance about an instrument's power, an experimenter's skills, and a specimen's properties. Through a close reading of engineering of instruments, he introduces a philosophy from (rather than of) design, contending that philosophical ideas are channeled from design plans to models and from model into the use of the devices.
Author: Daniel Rothbart Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 0252031369 Category : Experimental design Languages : en Pages : 158
Book Description
The surprising roles of instruments and experimentation in acquiring knowledge In Philosophical Instruments Daniel Rothbart argues that our tools are not just neutral intermediaries between humans and the natural world, but are devices that demand new ideas about reality. Just as a hunter's new spear can change their knowledge of the environment, so can the development of modern scientific equipment alter our view of the world. Working at the intersections of science, technology, and philosophy, Rothbart examines the revolution in knowledge brought on by recent advances in scientific instruments. Full of examples from historical and contemporary science, including electron scanning microscopes, sixteenth-century philosophical instruments, and diffraction devices used by biochemical researchers, Rothbart explores the ways in which instrumentation advances a philosophical stance about an instrument's power, an experimenter's skills, and a specimen's properties. Through a close reading of engineering of instruments, he introduces a philosophy from (rather than of) design, contending that philosophical ideas are channeled from design plans to models and from model into the use of the devices.
Author: David Brewster Publisher: ISBN: Category : Light Languages : en Pages : 482
Book Description
"First edition of David Brewster's first major scientific publication, detailing his early experiments in optics. In 1813, Brewster was already fellow of the Royal Society and editor of the Edinburgh Encyclopedia. The present work was the culmination of twelve years of experiments. In it, he reports his findings about the refractive and dispersive powers of early two hundred substances he made in a quest for the improvement of achromatic telescopes. Though the years immediately following this book's publication led him to revise some of his theories, these studies are the basis of much of the work for which he is celebrated, including his discoveries about the polarization of light and absorption spectra, and his invention of teh kaleidoscope and development of the stereoscope."--Antiquarian bookseller's description.
Author: Daniel Rothbart
Author: Edward S. RITCHIE
Author: James Glaisher
Author: W. and S. Jones (Firm)
Author: W. and S. Jones (Firm)
Author: W. and S. Jones (Firm)
Author: Daniel Rothbart
Author: David Brewster
Author: David Brewster
Author: Benjamin Pike (Jr.)