The Book Of Evidence

In this fascinating, elegantly written work, distinguished philosopher of science Peter Achinstein explores this question, rejecting typical philosophical and statistical theories of evidence. He claims these theories are much too weak to give scientists what they want - a good reason to believe - and, in some cases, they furnish concepts that mistakenly make all evidential claims a priori. Achinstein introduces four concepts of evidence, defines three of them by reference to "potential" evidence, and characterizes the latter using a novel epistemic interpretation of probability. The resulting theory is then applied to philosophical and historical issues. Solutions are provided to the "grue," "ravens," "lottery," and "old-evidence" paradoxes, and to a series of questions including whether explanations or predictions furnish more evidential weight; whether individual hypotheses or entire theoretical systems can receive evidential support; and what counts as a scientific discovery, and what evidence it requires. The historical questions include whether Jean Perrin had non-circular evidence for the existence of molecules; what type of evidence J. J. Thomson offered for the existence of the electron; and whether as is usually supposed-he really discovered the electron. Achinstein proposes answers to all of these, using his theory of evidence. As the premier book in the new series Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Science, this volume is essential for philosophers of science and historians of science, as well as for statisticians, scientists with philosophical interests, and anyone curious about scientific reasoning.