Science and Speculation

Studies the impact that the advances in philosophy and science had on each other in Greece between 300 B.C. and A.D. 200.

Jonathan Barnes (Author), J. Brunschwig (Author)

9780521022187, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 10 November 2005

380 pages
23 x 15 x 2.7 cm, 0.564 kg

The five hundred years from 300 B.C. to A.D. 200 were a period during which Greek science made spectacular advances and Greek philosophy underwent dramatic changes. How much did the scientists take note of the philosophical issues bearing on their pursuits? What progress did the philosophers make with methodological and theoretical issues arising out of developments in science? What influence did philosophical criticism or philosophical ideas have on specific theories in medicine or mechanics, mathematics or astronomy? These are some of the questions discussed in this series of papers by the distinguished scholars who took part in the Conférence Hellenistique in Paris in 1980. The result is a broad-ranging and pioneering volume which will be of importance to scholars in the history and philosophy of science and to those whose interests lie in classical philosophy.

Preface Victor Goldschmidt
Acknowledgements
Introduction Jonathan Barnes
Bibliographical notes
Chronological table
1. The method of the so-called Methodical school of medicine Michael Frede
2. Medicine, experience and logic Jonathan Barnes
3. Geometry and scepticism Ian Mueller
4. Force et science des machines François De Gandt
5. Observational error in later Greek science G. E. R. Lloyd
6. Astrology: arguments pro and contra A. A. Long
7. The origins of non-deductive inference M. F. Burnyeat
8. On signs David Sedley
9. Confirmation et disconfirmation Jean-Paul Dumont
10. Le théorie épicurienne du troit Victor Goldschmidt
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]