What are the central features and advantages of a scientific worldview? Why do even reasonable scientists sometimes disagree with each other? Does science reveal objective reality?

"This is Philosophy of Science" provides a reader-friendly introduction to the philosophical study of the nature, methods, and implications of empirical science. Assuming no previous background in philosophy, this accessible volume explains key philosophical concepts and addresses the important philosophical issues and debates that continue to arise within the empirical sciences.

Easy-to-comprehend chapters cover a wide range of both conceptual and practical topics, including theories of explanation and confirmation, the design of physical experimentation and modeling, probability and theory testing, and debates concerning scientific realism and anti-realism. Throughout the text, engaging discussions are illustrated by numerous relevant real-world examples drawn from the physical, life, and social sciences.

Featuring a companion website with useful student and instructor resources, "This is Philosophy of Science" is the perfect textbook for both STEM students with an interest in the conceptual foundations of their disciplines and undergraduate philosophy majors. It is also an excellent introduction for general readers wanting to explore science through a philosophical lens.

FRANZ-PETER GRIESMAIER is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wyoming, where he teaches history and philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, logic, and epistemology. He is the author of Rationality and Epistemic Sophistication.

JEFFREY A. LOCKWOOD is a Professor of Natural Sciences & Humanities at the University of Wyoming. He worked for 15 years in scientific research and is a recipient of the Pushcart Prize and the John Burroughs award. Professor Lockwood?s work has been featured in the Best American Science and Nature Writing.