Plato's philosophy of science Andrew Gregory.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gregory, Andrew, 1960- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plato.

Science--Philosophy--History--To 1500.

Science.

Science, Ancient.

Astronomy, Ancient.

Cosmology, Ancient.

Atomism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (349 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London Duckworth 2000.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In this illuminating book Andrew Gregory takes an original approach to Plato's philosophy of science by reassessing Plato's views on how we might investigate and explain the natural world. He demonstrates that many of the common charges against Plato - disinterest, ignorance, dismissal of observation - are unfounded, and shows instead that Plato had a series of important and cogent criticisms to make of the early atomists and other physiologoi. Plato's views on science, and on astronomy and cosmology in particular, are shown to have developed in interesting ways. Thus, the book argues, Plato can best be seen as a philosopher struggling with the foundations of scientific realism, and as someone, moreover, who has interesting epistemological, cosmological and nomological reasons for his approach. Plato's Philosophy of Science is important reading for all those with an interest in Ancient Philosophy and the History of Science.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Cosmology, Cosmogony and Teleology

2. Astronomy, Observation and Experiment

3. Meno's Paradox and Underdetemination

4. Celestial Motion in the Timaeus

5. Plato and the Development of Greek Astronomy

6. Plato and the Development of Greek Cosmology

7. Geometrical Atomism - Flux and Language

8. Geometrical Atomism - Matter and Space

9. Epistemology in the Timaeus and Philebus

10. Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index Locorum

Index of names

General index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [307]-324) and index

ISBN:

9781472502384

1472502388

9781472597854

1472597850

9781472502377

147250237X

OCLC:

902958409