Many introductions to this field start with the problem of justifying scientific knowledge but Alexander Bird begins by examining the subject matter, or metaphysics, of science. Using topical scientific debates he vividly elucidates what it is for the world to be governed by laws of nature. This idea provides the basis for explanations and causes and leads to a discussion of natural kinds and theoretical entities. With this foundation in place he goes on to consider the epistemological issues of how science arrives at knowledge, favouring a treatment of scientific reasoning based on inference to the best explanation. Drawing on contemporary work in epistemology, Bird argues that scepticism about induction should not be a problem for science and examines the consequences of this position for controversies surrounding the ideas of scientific progress and scientific revolution. Bird's insightful treatment makes Philosophy of Science an ideal text for undergraduate courses. The guides to further reading provided in each chapter help the reader pursue interesting topics and facilitate the use of the book in conjunction with primary sources.

亞曆山大·伯德，1964年齣生於英國，1983—1986年在牛津聖約翰學院攻讀哲學、政治學和經濟學，1986—1987年在慕尼黑大學學習，1987—1991年先後在劍橋大學聖埃德濛學院和皇傢學院學習，並在科學史與科學哲學係獲哲學碩士和哲學博士學位，畢業後在文職部門從事統一歐洲市場與農業公共政策方麵的管理工作，1993年到愛丁堡大學任職，後來曾任哲學係主任，現任布裏斯托大學哲學教授。主要從事科學的形而上學和認識論方麵的教學和研究工作，齣版有《科學哲學》、《托馬斯·庫恩》等著作。