Drifting Continents and Colliding Paradigms: Perspectives on the Geoscience Revolution

Drifting Continents and Colliding Paradigms: Perspectives on the Geoscience Revolution

by John A. Stewart
Drifting Continents and Colliding Paradigms: Perspectives on the Geoscience Revolution

Drifting Continents and Colliding Paradigms: Perspectives on the Geoscience Revolution

by John A. Stewart

Hardcover

$39.95 
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Overview

"The book provides an excellent historical summary of the debates over continental drift theory in this century." —Contemporary Sociology

"This is a useful discussion of the way that science works. The book will be of value to philosophers of science . . . " —Choice

" . . . will find an important place in university and department libraries, and will interest afficionados of the factual and intellectual history of the earth sciences." —Terra Nova

" . . . an excellent core analysis . . . " —The Times Higher Education Supplement

" . . . an ambitious and important contribution to the new sociology of science." —American Journal of Sociology

" . . . Stewart's book is a noble effort, an interesting and readable discussion, and another higher notch on the scoreboard of critical scholarship that deserves wide examination and close attention." —Geophysics

This fascinating book describes the rise and fall and rebirth of continental drift theory in this century. It uses the recent revolution in geoscientinsts' beliefs about the earth to examine questions such as, How does scientific knowledge develop and change? The book also explores how well different perspectives help us to understand revolutionary change in science.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780253354051
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Publication date: 05/22/1990
Series: Science, Technology, and Society
Pages: 304
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range: 18 Years

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Perspectives on Scientific Revolutions

Diverse Perspectives on the Nature of Scientific Revolutions
Data and "Theory Testing" in the History of Science
Overview of the Chapters

2. The Rise and Fall of Continental Drift Theory

Geological Thought in the Early 1900s
Continental Drift Theories
The Response to Wegener: 1920-1945
Discussion and Conclusions

3. Specialization without Integrating Theory: 1945-1959

Oceanography
Seismology
Geochronology
Geosyncline Theory and Continental Accretion
Paleomagnetism
Global Theories
Discussion and Conclusions

4. Plate Tectonics: Its Origin, Development, and Opponents

The Seafloor Spreading Hypothesis: 1960-1963
Growing Evidence for Seafloor Spreading: 1964-1966
The Rise and Partial Acceptance of Plate Tectonics: 1967-1970
Developments in the 1970s and Continuing Problems
Opposition By A Minority
Summary and Discussion

5. Philosophical and Historical Perspectives

Logical Empiricism
Critical Rationalism
Sophisticated Falsificationism
The "Problem-Solving" Perspective
General Problems with the "Rationalist" Perspectives
The Paradigm Perspective
Models and Analogies in Science
Conclusion and Overview: The "Paradigm" Paradigm

6. Social Perspectives on Decision-Making in Science

Decisions in a Typical Research Project
Source and Iconic Models for Studying Decision-Making in Science
Decison-Making in Social Organizations
The Motivations of Scientists and the Context of Research
Sociological Perspectives on Science
Measuring the "Global" Properties of Decision-Making in a Scientific Discipline
Summary and Conclusions

7. Quantitative Studies

Predicting the Influence of Scientific "Conversations"
Assessing the Importance of Social and Scientific Interests
Predicting Published Opinions on Continental Drift Theory: 1900-1950
Conclusions

8. Reflections

A Recapitulation
The Nature of Scientific Knowledge and Suggestions for Future Studies
Reflexive Reflections

Postscript
Notes
Bibliography
Index

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