Martin Cohen

Gebundenes Buch

Wittgenstein's Beetle and Other Classic Thought Experiments

Beschreibung

Thought experiments have played a central and significant role across a broad spectrum of philosophy and science, clarifying and solving complicated puzzles, problems and ideas in the 'laboratory of the mind'. This book offers a unique capsule history, inviting readers to participate actively in a surprisingly powerful and fruitful tradition. Vivid examples from this fascinating history make up the heart of the book, including Newton's Bucket, Lucretius' Spear, Salvatius' Ship, Plato's Cave, and of course Wittgenstein's Beetle. Each experiment is followed by a discussion offering possible inferences and consequences. In the final section, Cohen examines the method of thought experimentation suggesting key points for those wishing to harness its power for new explorations.

Autor

Martin Cohen is a teacher and writer specializing in philosophy, ethics and education, with a special interest in computing. His books include 101 Philosophy Problems (2nd edn., 2001), Political Philosophy (2001) and 101 Ethical Dilemmas (2003). He has been editor of The Philosopher since 1995.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Wiley
• Seitenzahl: 152
• Erscheinungstermin: 12. November 2004
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 157mm x 13mm
• Gewicht: 383g
• ISBN-13: 9781405121910
• ISBN-10: 1405121912
• Artikelnr.: 22036090

Rezensionen

"Martin Cohen's book is a delight to the intellect. His discussionof historically important thought experiments displays considerableerudition, permeated by wit and occasionally farcical inventionwhich embellish the philosophical value of his treatment."
Zenon Stavrinides, University of Bradford

"Cohen's book is packed with wit and scurrilous remarks aboutmainstream philosophers. His inimitable writing style, whichentertains as it instructs, is directed towards makingphilosophical ideas immediately accessible to the generalreader."
George MacDonald Ross, University of Leeds

"One of the fun things about philosophy is that you can sit backin your armchair, set up a laboratory in your own head and calmlyobserve

the results of mixing x with y. This is the grand traditionof the "thought experiment", to which Cohen provides a zippyalphabetical guide. Cohen's explanations of the problems are lucid,and he defends the tradition against killjoys who argue thatthought experiments cannot ever give reliable conclusions. At itsbest the thought experiment can be a highly compressed,conceptually fruitful marriage of science and literature."
Steven Poole on Wittgenstein's Beetle
Saturday November 20, 2004
The Guardian

"The value of this little book is that it collects a wide rangeof thought experiments and presents them in an accessible way. Itis a good place to start, and it will be especially useful forthose who teach courses on the topic and want to introduce it to anew generation of students."
James Robert Brown, University of Toronto

"There are several books of philosophical thought experimentscurrently in print... Cohen's A-Z are mostly of historicsignificance to science. They are wittily presented..."
Times Literary Supplement