This 1983 book is a lively and clearly written introduction to the philosophy of natural science, organized around the central theme of scientific realism. It has two parts. 'Representing' deals with the different philosophical accounts of scientific objectivity and the reality of scientific entities.

The views of Kuhn, Feyerabend, Lakatos, Putnam, van Fraassen, and others, are all considered. 'Intervening' presents the first sustained treatment of experimental science for many years and uses...

Guiding readers through the central philosophical debates within the philosophy of science, this thoroughly updated second edition includes topics such as scientific rationality, objectivity, and progress; the philosophical importance of scientific models; and the impact of feminist ideas on our understanding of science.