List of Figures.

Notes on Editors.

Personal Acknowledgments.

Text Acknowledgments.

Part I

Unit 1 The Ancient and Medieval Periods.

Unit 2 The Scientific Revolution.

Unit 3 The Modern Period.

Unit 4 Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century.

Part II

Unit 5 Positivism and the Received View.

Unit 6 After the Received View: Confirmation and Observation.

Unit 7 After the Received View: Methodology.

Unit 8 After the Received View: Explanation.

Unit 9 After the Received View: The Realism Debate.

"The introductions, which occupy one-sixth of the volume, are carefully, clearly, and at times even beautifully written. Perhaps most important, they are always intelligently sympathetic to the authors whose views they are presenting." (The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science, 1 April 2011)

"Overall, this is an impressive and versatile volume that should find its way into many classrooms. The commentary is thorough and clear enough to make the readings accessible to students, but not so imposing that instructors cannot add their own interpretation. This book would be suitable for advanced undergraduates who have completed previous coursework in history or philosophy." (Science & Education, 4 March 2011)

"For years I've fielded queries from colleagues around the world seeking an anthology through which to teach introductory history and philosophy of science courses by means of primary sources from the Greeks to the twentieth century. My answer has always been discouraging: No one book fills that need. But not anymore. This superb new collection is the book we've all been wanting. It's sure to become a classroom staple and a standard reference in the library of every historian and philosopher of science who thinks that Aristotle, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, and Einstein deserve to be heard speaking for themselves."
--Don Howard, University of Notre Dame

"This text provides a unique combination of historical and classical sources, combined with very helpful introductions. Its breadth of coverage means it may profitably used as a text in philosophy of science courses at many levels."
--Peter Machamer, University of Pittsburgh

Timothy McGrew is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Philosophy at Western Michigan University.


Marc Alspector-Kelly is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Western Michigan University.


Fritz Allhoff is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Mallinson Institute for Science Education, and Director of the History and Philosophy of Science Workgroup at Western Michigan University.

T. McGrew, Western Michigan University, USA; M. Alspector-Kelly, Western Michigan University, USA; F. Allhoff, Western Michigan University, The Nanoethics Group