The Logic of Discovery

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 1-37

3. Scientific Inquiry

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 39-86

4. Erotetic Logic and Scientific Questions

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 87-124

5. A Methodology for Problem Choice

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 125-182

6. The Pursuit of Questions

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 183-232

7. The Heuristic Character of Traditional Scientific Methods

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 233-304

8. Summary and Conclusions

   • Scott A. Kleiner

   Pages 305-318

9. Back Matter

   Pages 319-340

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Scientific research is viewed as a deliberate activity and the logic of discovery consists of strategies and arguments whereby the best objectives (questions) and optimal means for achieving these objectives (heuristics) are chosen. This book includes a discussion and some proposals regarding the way the logic of questions can be applied to understanding scientific research and draws upon work in artificial intelligence in a discussion of heuristics and methods for appraising heuristics (metaheuristics). It also includes a discussion of a third source for scientific objectives and heuristics; episodes and examplars from the history of science and the history of philosophy.
This book is written to be accessible to advanced students in philosophy and to the scientific community. It is of interest to philosophers of science, philosophers of biology, historians of physics, and historians of biology.

• access
• artificial intelligence
• heuristics
• history
• history of literature
• history of science
• logic
• methodology
• philosophy
• physics
• rationality
• science
• tradition

• Department of Philosophy, University of Georgia, Athens, USA

  Scott A. Kleiner

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