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Language and Scientific Research

  • Book
  • © 2021

Overview

Editors:
  1. Wenceslao J. Gonzalez

    1. Center for Research in Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of A Coruña, Ferrol, Spain

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  • Provides a comprehensive exploration of the semantics of science

  • Covers both basic scientific research and the development of applied science

  • Argues that language affects the structure and dynamics of science and is therefore not a mere expressive instrumental sign

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xi
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  2. The Relevance of Language for Scientific Research

    • Wenceslao J. Gonzalez
    Pages 1-37

  3. The Problem of Reference and Potentialities of the Language in Science

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 39-39
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    2. Semantics of Science and Theory of Reference: An Analysis of the Role of Language in Basic Science and Applied Science

      • Wenceslao J. Gonzalez
      Pages 41-91

    3. On the Role of Language in Scientific Research: Language as Analytic, Expressive, and Explanatory Tool

      • Ladislav Kvasz
      Pages 93-117

  4. Language and Change in Scientific Research: Evolution and Historicity

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 119-119
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    2. Scientific Inquiry and the Evolution of Language

      • Jeffrey Barrett
      Pages 121-147

    3. Language, History and the Making of Accurate Observations

      • Anastasios Brenner
      Pages 149-168

  5. Scientific Language in the Context of Truth and Fiction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 169-169
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    2. The Evolution of Truth and Belief

      • Jeffrey Barrett
      Pages 171-198

    3. Models, Fictions and Artifacts

      • Tarja Knuuttila
      Pages 199-220

  6. Language in Mathematics and in Empirical Sciences

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 221-221
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    2. On Mathematical Language: Characteristics, Semiosis and Indispensability

      • Jesus Alcolea
      Pages 223-245

    3. Characterization of Scientific Prediction from Language: An Analysis of Nicholas Rescher’s Proposal

      • Amanda Guillan
      Pages 247-266

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 267-285
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Keywords

About this book

This book analyzes the role of language in scientific research and develops the semantics of science from different angles. The philosophical investigation of the volume is divided into four parts, which covers both basic science and applied science: I) The Problem of Reference and Potentialities of the Language in Science; II) Language and Change in Scientific Research: Evolution and Historicity; III) Scientific Language in the Context of Truth and Fiction; and IV) Language in Mathematics and in Empirical Sciences.

Language plays a key role in science: our access to the theoretical, practical or evaluative dimensions of scientific activity begins with the mastery of language, continues with a deepening in the use of language and reaches the level of contribution when it creates new terms or changes them in sense and reference. This reveals the compatibility between objectivity in semantic contents and historicity in the progress of science. This volume is a valuable enrichment to students, academics and other professionals interested in science in all its forms, who seek to deepen the role that language plays in its structure and dynamics.



Editors and Affiliations

  • Center for Research in Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of A Coruña, Ferrol, Spain

    Wenceslao J. Gonzalez

About the editor

Wenceslao J. Gonzalez is Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at the University of A Coruña, Spain. He is a Full Member of the Académie International de Philosophie des Sciences and a Fellow of the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Language and Scientific Research

  • Editors: Wenceslao J. Gonzalez

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60537-7

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-60536-0Published: 28 April 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-60539-1Published: 28 April 2022

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-60537-7Published: 27 April 2021

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XI, 285

  • Number of Illustrations: 15 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of Language

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