Basically there are two kind of reading lists. The first one is for those who want to examine a certain field – i.e. the applied philosophy of science (after all, what else:-). The second one is for those whose aim is not to become an expert of that field, but intend to apply its results. This list belongs to the second category: I am aware that reading Kuhn or Popper (not to mention Merton or Hull or Aristotle) is a really enjoyable form of either recreation or scientific research. But it is not necessary to apply their results. So you do not need to read all the classics – it is enough to understand them to an appropriate level.
I collected some readable and easy to understand, but serious titles. They are usually available either in bigger libraries or via an online bookshop. Their subjects are divided into about five groups: general philosophy; philosophy of science; philosophy of mathematics (as the traditional natural sciences based on it); SETI; cosmology and miscellaneous readings.
My approach is mainly physics centered, but I hope that it is a useful list even for those who are interested in, for example, evolution. Obviously, there are other, equally good works about these topics, but they are my favorites, so this list at least partially about my personal preferences. My advice is to read them in the following order:
GENERAL PHILOSOPHY:
1. Baggini, Julian – Fosl, Peter S.: The Philosopher’s Toolkit. A Compendium of Philosophical Concepts and Methods (Wiley – Backwell 2010)
In accordance with its title, this volume is about philosophical tools and their usage from axioms and hypothetico-deductive method to the meaning of a priori; self-defeating arguments and Hume’s fork. Use it as a thinking toolbox – very efficient.
2. Warburton, Nigel: Philosophy. The Basics (Routledge 1999)
Survey about “general beliefs” from the meaning of the life to the existence of God and the design argument; common-sense realism; negative freedom… etc. This book discuss these basic themes from a non-historical, problem oriented point of view.
3. Scruton, Roger: Modern Philosophy. An Introduction and Survey (Mandarin 1994)
It discusses more subjects than typical for introductory texts from intentionality to modality and space and time in a lucid and readable style. Offers a deep and sympathetic understanding.
PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE:
4. Okasha, Samir: Philosophy of Science. A Very Short Introduction (Oxford Univ. Press 2002)
What is science? Problems of reasoning, explanation, realism and anti-realism and philosophical problems of physics, biology, psychology... Short and compact summary of the main problems of philosophy of science – a good starting point to understand some basic concepts.
5. Godfrey-Smith, Peter: Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2003)
Deep and detailed guide to the 20th century’s developments from logical positivism to Feyerabend, Latour and feminist criticism. It was written for students learning philosophy of science, but accessible to a reader with general interest without any background in philosophy, as well.
6. DeWitt, Richard: Worldviews. An Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science (Wiley – Blackwell 2010)
In accordance with its title, it is about both history and philosophy of science. The story begins with Aristotle and his “grocery list” of beliefs, and ends with quantum theory and locality. DeWitt shows why a certain worldview (either Aristotle’s or Tycho’s) seemed to be acceptable to their contemporary thinkers, and offers an inner picture about these approaches. History and philosophy is interwoven in it, and it is not an accident, since both of them are required to understand the process of science.
7. Henry, John: A Short History of Sceintific Thought (Palgrave – Macmillan 2012)
History of scientific thought as a fuel of philosophy of science. The emphasis is on the developments of science; a readable style with a lot of piece of information – even a historian of scientist would find both new data and contexts in it (unless he/she is an expert of the whole history of science from ancient Greek philosophers to Hutton and Baresh Hoffmann – but it is not too probable).
to be continued...
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