Studies in History and Philosophy of Science

This book provides a fresh and ecumenic understanding of naturalism for contemporary philosophers and scientists who, while accepting naturalism as a standard for doing philosophy and science, understand it often very differently. It also demonstrates that to see naturalism in opposition to socio-historical approaches is an unwarranted as well as unwanted scheme for our overall conception of empirical inquiry. By bringing together naturalism and historicism, this book provides a unique perspective on the philosophy of science that is of interest not only to philosophers, but also those interested in the history of science and the sociology of scientific knowledge.