Drifting Continents and Shifting Theories / Edition 1

by H. E. Le Grand

Overview

This innovative book uses the story of how a modern science achieved its present shape and focus to introduce the question of the nature of scientific change and its philosophical analysis. The "modern revolution in geology" of the 1960s and 1970s saw the triumph of the global theory of plate tectonics, and decisive turning point in fifty years' controversy and competition first sparked in 1912 by Wegener's proposal of continenta drift. Here, Professor Le Grand interweaves a history of this episode of scientific change with reflective discussions of its historical, philosophical, and social circumstances, and of the development of science more generally. The approach of the book is exploratory; the reader is encouraged to be an active participant—to use the historical narrative to understand and criticize some of the more recent, influential ideas about science and scientists, to draw conclusions, and especially to pose questions about how and why changes occur in scientific knowledge and practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521311052
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/15/1988
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.94(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Solid as a rock?: geology before Wegener; 3. Wegener and his theory: antecedents and arguments; 4. Debate around the earth; 5. Specialties, localism and problem-solving; 6. Interregum: competition and stalemate; 7. Palaeomagnetism, drift and polar wandering; 8. Patterns and puzzles from the sea; 9. Shifting theories; 10. The 'revolution' proclaimed; 11. Theories of scientific change and the modern revolution in geology; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...will be of great interest both to specialists and to generalists in the several disciplines it embraces. Its genuinely new feature is the integration of geological history with discussions of the scientific enterprise. This provides us a richly detailed and cogently argued text that is guaranteed to generate lively discussion among graduate or undergraduate students in small seminars or large classrooms. The writing is clear but nontechnical and, therefore, readily accessible to lay readers. Le Grand's melding of disciplines is very welcome in a day when too many of us hew too closely to our own narrow research interests." American Scientist

From the Publisher

The "modern revolution in geology" of the 1960s and 1970s saw the triumph of the global theory of plate tectonics, a decisive turning point in fifty years' controversy and competition first sparked in 1912 by Wegener's proposal of continental drift. Here, Le Grand (history and philosophy of science, U. of Melbourne, Australia) interweaves a history of this episode of scientific change with reflective discussions of its historical, philosophical, and social circumstances, and of the development of science more generally. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews