- Paperback: 480 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press; illustrated edition edition (1 Feb 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0691020310
- ISBN-13: 978-0691020310
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 13.9 x 2.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 201,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
These pieces taken from Anglo-Austrian philosopher Sir Karl Popper's brilliantly expounded oeuvre of political, social, and scientific thought should stimulate anyone seriously interested in twentieth-century ideas. -- "The Washington Post
Product Description
A sampling of the philosophical writings of Karl Popper includes discussions of rationalism, knowledge, human freedom, and the scientific method.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I noticed that the only review of this was rated at three stars and thought "Oh, come on! How can this be anything less than five?".
Unless you're onto the "hard stuff" of Logic of Scientific Discovery, Conjectures and Refutations, Objective Knowledge and The Open Society and Its Enemies this is your best bet for the most important philosopher of the 20th century. It was the second Popper-related book I read. The first, Bryan Magee's "Popper", is an excellent summary. This book goes a little further in actually being Popper's writings. He had a fantastic style and a very clear train of thought. Reading it is a liberating experience: here is a great philosopher grappling with real problems, formulating real solutions and communicating in a way that you can understand.
A life changing (or at least intellectual-life changing) book.
Unless you're onto the "hard stuff" of Logic of Scientific Discovery, Conjectures and Refutations, Objective Knowledge and The Open Society and Its Enemies this is your best bet for the most important philosopher of the 20th century. It was the second Popper-related book I read. The first, Bryan Magee's "Popper", is an excellent summary. This book goes a little further in actually being Popper's writings. He had a fantastic style and a very clear train of thought. Reading it is a liberating experience: here is a great philosopher grappling with real problems, formulating real solutions and communicating in a way that you can understand.
A life changing (or at least intellectual-life changing) book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A good selection of writings from a important philosopher. Covers most important areas of the writings of Karl Popper. Well edited
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
68 of 69 people found the following review helpful
A great introduction to the writings of Karl Popper
2 Aug 2001
Format:Paperback
This is one of my few cherished books - it gives an overview of the thinking of one of the great philosophers of modern times, Karl Popper. Miller's organization and introduction of the material contributes significantly.
I first became interested in Popper for his view on science. In a nutshell, that falsificationism is the best (only?) approach to practicing science. Popper's view taken literally might not make a full arsenal for a working scientist, but the spirit of his idea - that mistaken but provocative theory contributes importantly to the progress of science - is liberating, even exhilirating. Sounds a little strange? Well, try it and see for yourself. Popper is probably the only philosopher of science who has had an impact on how scientists actually think about their work. Others, who may try to strike a more balanced tone, end up writing mush.
From Miller's fine collection we learn that Popper has done much more, including making important contributions to social and political theory. This book will also introduce the reader to one of Popper's personal wellsprings, the pre-Socratic philosophers. In all, this book is an intellectual treasure.
52 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Best Summary of Popper's Ideas Out There
10 Sep 1999
Format:Paperback
This is one of my favorites in my bookcase. Popper has a gripping writing style and these essays provide short glimpses into his most important ideas. Probably not for the general reader, but for anyone having an intellectual interest in science and society, this book covers Popper's ideas on the faults of inductive reasoning, his definition of science vs. pseudoscience, his views on intolerant thinking and behavior, and even his idea of 'piecemeal social engineering,' an idea ahead of its time. Throughout this book, Popper emerges as a warm, brilliant thinker, one of the best of the 20th Century. The editors have done a wonderful job compiling these selections, and the book is of fine quality construction and will last for many years on the buyer's bookshelf.
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
The Tradition of Critical Discussion + more..
23 Dec 2004
Format:Paperback
Brilliant, clearly written, and wonderfully brief essays that span the life works of Karl Popper, organized into four parts: Theory of Knowledge, Philosophy of Science, Metaphysics, and Social Philosophy.
Perhaps best known for his 'Open Society and Its Enemies' (written during WWII while in New Zealand), Popper is clearly an advocate of open and free debate in all academic disciplines. Against solving irrelevant 'puzzles of language' - a habit of philosophers and Ludwig Wittgenstein in particular (Read book on this: 'Wittgenstein's Poker') - Popper is most concerned with solving real world 'problems' that impact human life. 'Our ignorance is sobering and boundless' he suggests but, together, through open-ness we can move toward finding ever-adjusting solutions for a better world.
Like other survivors of WWII (e.g. Isaiah Berlin), Popper is especially concerned with those who advocate 100% solutions to society's woes. One of our clearest advocates of the lessons of the Ancient Greeks, Popper tells us: The 'tradition of critical discussion' was the secret of the ancients. This tradition leads us to the realization that our attempts to find 'truth' are never final; and that criticism and critical discussion are our only means of getting nearer to the truth.
For those interested in: 1) Clear-headed discussions on science and philosophy, and 2) Hearing from a strong advocate of freedom and the 'western tradition' read this book. And bring a pencil.
Perhaps best known for his 'Open Society and Its Enemies' (written during WWII while in New Zealand), Popper is clearly an advocate of open and free debate in all academic disciplines. Against solving irrelevant 'puzzles of language' - a habit of philosophers and Ludwig Wittgenstein in particular (Read book on this: 'Wittgenstein's Poker') - Popper is most concerned with solving real world 'problems' that impact human life. 'Our ignorance is sobering and boundless' he suggests but, together, through open-ness we can move toward finding ever-adjusting solutions for a better world.
Like other survivors of WWII (e.g. Isaiah Berlin), Popper is especially concerned with those who advocate 100% solutions to society's woes. One of our clearest advocates of the lessons of the Ancient Greeks, Popper tells us: The 'tradition of critical discussion' was the secret of the ancients. This tradition leads us to the realization that our attempts to find 'truth' are never final; and that criticism and critical discussion are our only means of getting nearer to the truth.
For those interested in: 1) Clear-headed discussions on science and philosophy, and 2) Hearing from a strong advocate of freedom and the 'western tradition' read this book. And bring a pencil.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
