Beyond Paradigms in the Processes of Scientific Inquiry

This book is concerned with the process of belief
formation and change in one of the most important
areas of human endeavour scientific inquiry and
the paradigms that underpin that process. It is
argued that scientific inquiry is driven by the same
need for explanation that gives rise to all forms of
human inquiry. It is further argued that the
perceptual and intellectual processes that form and
guide scientific inquiry are no different from those
that drive any other form. Examined in detail are the
assumptions, or beliefs, that underlie and give form
to our scientific endeavours, both historically and
currently, and the fundamental impact those
assumptions have on what phenomena we choose to
explore, how we explore those phenomena and how we
interpret what we find. This work undertakes a major
historical and conceptual analysis of the emergence
and development of the dominant scientific paradigms
in the Western tradition and identifies the genesis
of a new and significant metaparadigm.

Autorentext

The author was born and grew up in Wales. He graduated fromCambridge University in 1972 with a BEd, emigrated to Australiaand worked extensively in education and community services. Hegained his MSc and PhD from Curtin University. Apart fromphilosophy, his other passion is traditional Celtic music. Heplays violin and Irish whistle.

Klappentext

This book is concerned with the process of beliefformation and change in one of the most importantareas of human endeavour - scientific inquiry - andthe paradigms that underpin that process. It isargued that scientific inquiry is driven by the sameneed for explanation that gives rise to all forms ofhuman inquiry. It is further argued that theperceptual and intellectual processes that form andguide scientific inquiry are no different from thosethat drive any other form. Examined in detail are theassumptions, or beliefs, that underlie and give formto our scientific endeavours, both historically and currently, and the fundamental impact thoseassumptions have on what phenomena we choose toexplore, how we explore those phenomena and how weinterpret what we find. This work undertakes a majorhistorical and conceptual analysis of the emergenceand development of the dominant scientific paradigmsin the Western tradition and identifies the genesisof a new and significant metaparadigm.