{"product_id":"seeing-things-robert-hudson-9780199303281","title":"Seeing Things: The Philosophy of Reliable Observation","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eSeeing Things\u003c\/em\u003e, Robert Hudson assesses a common way of arguing about observation reports called \"robustness reasoning.\" Robustness reasoning claims that an observation report is more likely to be true if the report is produced by multiple, independent sources. \u003cem\u003eSeeing Things\u003c\/em\u003e argues that robustness reasoning lacks the special value it is often claimed to have. Hudson exposes key flaws in various popular philosophical defenses of robustness reasoning. This philosophical critique of robustness is extended by recounting five episodes in the history of science (from experimental microbiology, atomic theory, astrophysics and astronomy) where robustness reasoning is -- or could be claimed to have been -- used. Hudson goes on to show that none of these episodes do in fact exhibit robustness reasoning. In this way, the significance of robustness reasoning is rebutted on both philosophical and historical grounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut the book does more than critique robustness reasoning. It also develops a better defense of the informative value of observation reports. The book concludes by relating insights into the failure of robustness reasoning to a popular approach to scientific realism called \"(theoretical) preservationism.\" Hudson argues that those who defend this approach to realism commit similar errors to those who advocate robustness reasoning. In turn, a new form of realism is formulated and defended. Called \"methodological preservationism,\" it recognizes the fundamental value of naked eye observation to scientists -- and the rest of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Robert Hudson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0199303282\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780199303281\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/01\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 298\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.05lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.30h x 5.70w x 1.30d","brand":"Robert Hudson","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47419023425791,"sku":"9780199303281","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e25e2d92-b1de-4238-b41d-c61b66f940a4.jpg?v=1761508973","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/seeing-things-robert-hudson-9780199303281","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}