Philosophy and Climate Science

A comprehensive and accessible introduction, as well as an original contribution, to the main philosophical issues raised by climate science.

Eric Winsberg (Author)

9781107195691, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 April 2018

282 pages
23.5 x 15.5 x 1.8 cm, 0.59 kg

'… this is a book that many will find extremely valuable.' Dale Jamieson, The Quarterly Review of Biology

There continues to be a vigorous public debate in our society about the status of climate science. Much of the skepticism voiced in this debate suffers from a lack of understanding of how the science works - in particular the complex interdisciplinary scientific modeling activities such as those which are at the heart of climate science. In this book Eric Winsberg shows clearly and accessibly how philosophy of science can contribute to our understanding of climate science, and how it can also shape climate policy debates and provide a starting point for research. Covering a wide range of topics including the nature of scientific data, modeling, and simulation, his book provides a detailed guide for those willing to look beyond ideological proclamations, and enriches our understanding of how climate science relates to important concepts such as chaos, unpredictability, and the extent of what we know.

Preface
List of figures
List of tables
List of boxes
1. Introduction
2. Data
3. Models
4. Simulations
5. Chaos
6. Probability
7. Confidence
8. Decision
9. Values
10. Skill
11. Robustness
12. Diversity
13. Social epistemology
14. Epilogue
Appendix: structural stability and the 'Hawkmoth Effect'
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Climate change [RNPG], Environmentalist thought & ideology [RNA], Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ], Philosophy [HP]