Background
Salmon, Wesley Charles was born on August 9, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Son of Wallis Samuel and Ruth Elizabeth Salmon.
( Not since Ernest Nagel’s 1939 monograph on the theory o...)
Not since Ernest Nagel’s 1939 monograph on the theory of probability has there been a comprehensive elementary survey of the philosophical problems of probablity and induction. This is an authoritative and up-to-date treatment of the subject, and yet it is relatively brief and nontechnical. Hume’s skeptical arguments regarding the justification of induction are taken as a point of departure, and a variety of traditional and contemporary ways of dealing with this problem are considered. The author then sets forth his own criteria of adequacy for interpretations of probability. Utilizing these criteria he analyzes contemporary theories of probability , as well as the older classical and subjective interpretations.
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( According to modern physics, many objectively improbabl...)
According to modern physics, many objectively improbable events actually occur, such as the spontaneous disintegration of radioactive atoms. Because of high levels of improbability, scientists are often at a loss to explain such phenomena. In this main essay of this book, Wesley Salmon offers a solution to scientific explanation based on the concept of statistical relevance (the S-R model). In this vein, the other two essays herein discuss “Statistical Relevance vs. Statistical Inference,” and “Explanation and Information.”
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(Second edition, revised. This volume brings back into pri...)
Second edition, revised. This volume brings back into print a clear, non-technical introductory text. In a review of the previous edition the British Journal for the Philosophy of Science described it as "an excellent and clear exposition of many of the important problems about space, thime, and motion which are of topical concern to physicists and philosophers. Salmon presents these topics with sure authority which embraces mathematics and physics as well as philosophy. The book serves as an admirable introduction to these topics, and provides perspectives on geometry and 9mathematical) analysis which could be invaluable to students of mathematics and its philosophy....Yet the book is more than a well-written 'introduction'; it is a thought provoking discussion of fundamental issues..."
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( The philosophical theory of scientific explanation prop...)
The philosophical theory of scientific explanation proposed here involves a radically new treatment of causality that accords with the pervasively statistical character of contemporary science. Wesley C. Salmon describes three fundamental conceptions of scientific explanation--the epistemic, modal, and ontic. He argues that the prevailing view (a version of the epistemic conception) is untenable and that the modal conception is scientifically out-dated. Significantly revising aspects of his earlier work, he defends a causal/mechanical theory that is a version of the ontic conception. Professor Salmon's theory furnishes a robust argument for scientific realism akin to the argument that convinced twentieth-century physical scientists of the existence of atoms and molecules. To do justice to such notions as irreducibly statistical laws and statistical explanation, he offers a novel account of physical randomness. The transition from the "reviewed view" of scientific explanation (that explanations are arguments) to the causal/mechanical model requires fundamental rethinking of basic explanatory concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691101701/?tag=2022091-20
( As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on...)
As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on deductive argument--yet, Wesley C. Salmon points out, not all deductive arguments are qualified explanations. The validity of the explanation must itself be examined. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation provides a comprehensive account of the developments in scientific explanation that transpired in the last four decades of the twentieth century. It continues to stand as the most comprehensive treatment of the writings on the subject during these years. Building on the historic 1948 essay by Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, "Studies in the Logic of Explanation,” which introduced the deductive-nomological (D-N) model on which most work on scientific explanation was based for the following four decades, Salmon goes beyond this model's inherent basis of describing empirical knowledge to tells us “not only what, but also why.” Salmon examines the predominant models in chronological order and describes their development, refinement, and criticism or rejection. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation underscores the need for a consensus of approach and ongoing evaluations of methodology in scientific explanation, with the goal of providing a better understanding of natural phenomena.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0822959267/?tag=2022091-20
(For over two decades Wesley Salmon has helped to shape th...)
For over two decades Wesley Salmon has helped to shape the course of debate in philosophy of science. He is a major contributor to the philosophical discussion of problems associated with causality and the author of two influential books on scientific explanation. This long-awaited volume collects twenty- six of Salmon's essays, including seven that have never before been published and others difficult to find. Part I comprises five introductory essays that presuppose no formal training in philosophy of science and form a background for subsequent essays. Parts II and III contain Salmon's seminal work on scientific explanation and causality. Part IV offers survey articles that feature advanced material but remain accessible to those outside philosophy of science. Essays in Part V address specific issues in particular scientific disciplines, namely, archaeology and anthropology, astrophysics and cosmology, and physics. Clear, compelling, and essential, this volume offers a superb introduction to philosophy of science for nonspecialists and belongs on the bookshelf of all who carry out work in this exciting field. Wesley Salmon is renowned for his seminal contributions to the philosophy of science. He has powerfully and permanently shaped discussion of such issues as lawlike and probabilistic explanation and the interrelation of explanatory notions to causal notions. This unique volume brings together twenty-six of his essays on subjects related to causality and explanation, written over the period 1971-1995. Six of the essays have never been published before and many others have only appeared in obscure venues. The volume includes a section of accessible introductory pieces, as well as more advanced and technical pieces, and will make essential work in the philosophy of science readily available to both scholars and students.
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( Scientific Explanation was first published in 1962. Min...)
Scientific Explanation was first published in 1962. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. Is a new consensus emerging in the philosophy of science? The nine distinguished contributors to this volume apply that question to the realm of scientific explanation and, although their conclusions vary, they agree in one respect: there definitely was an old consensus. Co-editor Wesley Salmon's opening essay, "Four Decades of Scientific Explanation," grounds the entire discussion. His point of departure is the founding document of the old consensus: a 1948 paper by Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, "Studies in the Logic of Explanation," that set forth, with remarkable clarity, a mode of argument that came to be known as the deductive-nomological model. This approach, holding that explanation dies not move beyond the sphere of empirical knowledge, remained dominant during the hegemony of logical empiricism from 1950 to 1975. Salmon traces in detail the rise and breakup of the old consensus, and examines the degree to which there is, if not a new consensus, at least a kind of reconciliation on this issue among contemporary philosophers of science and clear agreement that science can indeed tell us why. The other contributors, in the order of their presentations, are: Peter Railton, Matti Sintonen, Paul W. Humphreys, David Papineau, Nancy Cartwright, James Woodward, Merrilee H. Salmon, and Philip Kitcher.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0816617732/?tag=2022091-20
( As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on...)
As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on deductive argument--yet, Wesley C. Salmon points out, not all deductive arguments are qualified explanations. The validity of the explanation must itself be examined. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation provides a comprehensive account of the developments in scientific explanation that transpired in the last four decades of the twentieth century. It continues to stand as the most comprehensive treatment of the writings on the subject during these years. Building on the historic 1948 essay by Carl G. Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, "Studies in the Logic of Explanation,” which introduced the deductive-nomological (D-N) model on which most work on scientific explanation was based for the following four decades, Salmon goes beyond this model's inherent basis of describing empirical knowledge to tells us “not only what, but also why.” Salmon examines the predominant models in chronological order and describes their development, refinement, and criticism or rejection. Four Decades of Scientific Explanation underscores the need for a consensus of approach and ongoing evaluations of methodology in scientific explanation, with the goal of providing a better understanding of natural phenomena.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0822959267/?tag=2022091-20
( A reprint of the Prentice-Hall edition of 1992. Prepar...)
A reprint of the Prentice-Hall edition of 1992. Prepared by nine distinguished philosophers and historians of science, this thoughtful reader represents a cooperative effort to provide an introduction to the philosophy of science focused on cultivating an understanding of both the workings of science and its historical and social context. Selections range from discussions of topics in general methodology to a sampling of foundational problems in various physical, biological, behavioral, and social sciences. Each chapter contains a list of suggested readings and study questions.
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( The philosophical theory of scientific explanation prop...)
The philosophical theory of scientific explanation proposed here involves a radically new treatment of causality that accords with the pervasively statistical character of contemporary science. Wesley C. Salmon describes three fundamental conceptions of scientific explanation--the epistemic, modal, and ontic. He argues that the prevailing view (a version of the epistemic conception) is untenable and that the modal conception is scientifically out-dated. Significantly revising aspects of his earlier work, he defends a causal/mechanical theory that is a version of the ontic conception. Professor Salmon's theory furnishes a robust argument for scientific realism akin to the argument that convinced twentieth-century physical scientists of the existence of atoms and molecules. To do justice to such notions as irreducibly statistical laws and statistical explanation, he offers a novel account of physical randomness. The transition from the "reviewed view" of scientific explanation (that explanations are arguments) to the causal/mechanical model requires fundamental rethinking of basic explanatory concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691101701/?tag=2022091-20
( Featuring a strong emphasis on the fundamentals underl...)
Featuring a strong emphasis on the fundamentals underlying contemporary logic design using hardware description languages, synthesis, and verification, this book focuses on the ever-evolving applications of basic computer design concepts with strong connections to real-world technology. Treatment of logic design, digital system design, and computer design. Ideal for self-study by engineers and computer scientists.
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(Parenting little ones can be exhausting...until you disco...)
Parenting little ones can be exhausting...until you discover Love and Logic. Take the exhaustion out and put the fun into parenting your little one. If you want help with: • Potty training. • Temper tantrums. • Bedtime. • Whining . • Time-out. • Hassle-free mornings. and many other everyday challenges, then this book is for you! This book is the tool parents of little ones have been waiting for. America's Parenting Experts Jim and Charles Fay, Ph.D., help you start your child off on the right foot. The tools in Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood will give you the building blocks you need to create children who grow up to be responsible, successful teens and adults. And as a bonus you will enjoy every stage of your child's life and look forward to sharing a lifetime of joy with them.
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(1971 191 pages with illustrations. Original Publication, ...)
1971 191 pages with illustrations. Original Publication, not a modern reprint. Hardbound with good dust jacket, previous owners stamp, text in very good condition
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( For courses in Logic and Computer design. Underst...)
For courses in Logic and Computer design. Understanding Logic and Computer Design for All Audiences Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals is a thoroughly up-to-date text that makes logic design, digital system design, and computer design available to readers of all levels. The Fifth Edition brings this widely recognized source to modern standards by ensuring that all information is relevant and contemporary. The material focuses on industry trends and successfully bridges the gap between the much higher levels of abstraction people in the field must work with today than in the past. Broadly covering logic and computer design, Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals is a flexibly organized source material that allows instructors to tailor its use to a wide range of audiences.
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(Designed for students with no prior training in logic, IN...)
Designed for students with no prior training in logic, INTRODUCTION TO LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING offers an accessible treatment of logic that enhances understanding of reasoning in everyday life. The text begins with an introduction to arguments. After some linguistic preliminaries, the text presents a detailed analysis of inductive reasoning and associated fallacies. This order of presentation helps to motivate the use of formal methods in the subsequent sections on deductive logic and fallacies. Lively and straightforward prose assists students in gaining facility with the sometimes challenging concepts of logic. By combining a sensitive treatment of ordinary language arguments with a simple but rigorous exposition of basic principles of logic, the text develops students' understanding of the relationships between logic and language, and strengthens their skills in critical thinking.
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(1984 305 pages with illustrations. Original Publication, ...)
1984 305 pages with illustrations. Original Publication, not a modern reprint. Hardbound with good dust jacket, previous owners stamp, text in very good condition
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( Want to learn even more about electronics in a fun, han...)
Want to learn even more about electronics in a fun, hands-on way? If you finished the projects in Make: Electronics, or if you're already familiar with the material in that book, you're ready for Make: More Electronics. Right away, you'll start working on real projects, and you'll explore all the key components and essential principles through the book's collection of experiments. You'll build the circuits first, then learn the theory behind them! This book picks up where Make: Electronics left off: you'll work with components like comparators, light sensors, higher-level logic chips, multiplexers, shift registers, encoders, decoders, and magnetic sensors. You'll also learn about topics like audio amplification, randomicity, as well as positive and negative feedback. With step-by-step instructions, and hundreds of color photographs and illustrations, this book will help you use -- and understand -- intermediate to advanced electronics concepts and techniques.
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Salmon, Wesley Charles was born on August 9, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Son of Wallis Samuel and Ruth Elizabeth Salmon.
Student, Wayne University, 1944. Master of Arts, University Chicago, 1947. Doctor of Philosophy, University of California at Los Angeles, 1950.
Master of Arts (honorary), Brown University, 1959.
Instructor University of California at Los Angeles, 1950-1951. Instructor, assistant professor Washington State College, 1951-1954. Assistant professor Northwestern University, 1954-1955.
Assistant professor, then associate professor Brown University, 1955-1963. Professor, Hanson professor history and philosophy of science Indiana University, Bloomington, 1963-1973. Professor University Arizona, 1973-1981.
Professor, chairman department University Pittsburgh, 1981-1983, University professor, 1983-1999, University professor emeritus, from 1999. Visiting lecturer University Bristol, 1959. Visiting professor University Pittsburgh, 1968-1969, University Melbourne, Australia, 1978, Arizona State University, 1983.
Visiting research professor Minnesota Center for Philosophy of Science, 1963, visiting fellow National Endowment of the Humanities Institute, 1985. Professore a contratto, University Bologna, Italy, 1988.
( Featuring a strong emphasis on the fundamentals underl...)
( Want to learn even more about electronics in a fun, han...)
(Designed for students with no prior training in logic, IN...)
( The philosophical theory of scientific explanation prop...)
( The philosophical theory of scientific explanation prop...)
( Not since Ernest Nagel’s 1939 monograph on the theory o...)
( According to modern physics, many objectively improbabl...)
(For over two decades Wesley Salmon has helped to shape th...)
( As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on...)
( As Aristotle stated, scientific explanation is based on...)
( Scientific Explanation was first published in 1962. Min...)
( A reprint of the Prentice-Hall edition of 1992. Prepar...)
( For courses in Logic and Computer design. Underst...)
(Parenting little ones can be exhausting...until you disco...)
(1971 191 pages with illustrations. Original Publication, ...)
(1984 305 pages with illustrations. Original Publication, ...)
(Second edition, revised. This volume brings back into pri...)
Author: Logic, 1963, 3d edition, 1984, Foundations of Scientific Inference, 1967, Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance, 1971, Space, Time, and Motion: A Philosophical Introduction, 1975, second edition, 1981, Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World, 1984, Four Decades of Scientific Explanation, 1990, Causality and Explanation, 1998. Co-author: Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, 1992. Editor: Zeno's Paradoxes, 1970, Hans Reichenbach: Logical Empiricist, 1979.Co-editor: The Limitations of Deductivism, 1988, Scientific Explanation, 1989.
Wesley Salmon is a central defender of empiricism within the scientific tradition. A student of Hans Beichenbach. he has ably defended the relative frequency interpretation of probability throughout his career. Beginning in 1971, Salmon developed first a statistical then a causal account of scientific explanation that has attracted more attention than any other since Hempel's deductive-nomological account, which it replaced.
He has argued for induction as a legitimate part of scientific inference, defending amongst other things Reichenbach’s pragmatic vindication. He has also championed the cause of scientific realism, using the principle of the common cause as the main inference device. Within spacetime theories, he has advocated the conventionality of simultaneity relations.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Academy Arts and Sciences. Member Philosophy of Science Association (vice president 1968-1970, president 1971-1972), American Philosophical Association (member executive committee Western division 1969-1971, president Pacific division 1976-1977), International Union History and Philosophy of Science (chairman United States national committee 1967-1968, president 1998-1999), International Union of History and Philosophy of Science (1st vice president division logic, methodology and philosophy of science 1979-1983, president 1996-1999).
Probability and induction. Causation; explanation. Space and time.
Hans Reichenbach.
Married Nancy Huston Pilson, November 26, 1949 (divorced July 1970). Married Merrilee Hollenkamp, July 26, 1971.