{"product_id":"likeness-to-truth-the-western-ontario-series-in-philosophy","title":"Likeness to Truth (The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Likeness to Truth, G. Oddie presents a focused, rigorous philosophical examination of the concept of truthlikeness and its role in realist inquiry. The book is best for graduate students, professional philosophers, and anyone studying philosophy of science who wants a clear, technical account of why a false theory can be closer to the truth than another. The single biggest reason to read it is its careful argument that combining modest realist aims yields the nontrivial conclusion that truthlikeness matters for assessing theoretical progress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRigorous analysis:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book provides a formal, philosophical treatment of the concept of likeness to truth that clarifies ambiguous intuitions and exposes underlying assumptions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRealist focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e It frames the discussion around the truth doctrine and the progress doctrine, showing how realist commitments shape how we evaluate theories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConceptual clarity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Oddie isolates two modest realist aims and uses them to derive the conclusion that false theories can be more truthlike, offering precise conceptual consequences.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConsequential implications:\u003c\/strong\u003e The work examines surprising consequences for the true\/false dichotomy, encouraging readers to rethink standard binary evaluations of theories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePhilosophy of science context:\u003c\/strong\u003e As part of The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science, the book situates its analysis within contemporary debates on scientific progress and realism.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is primarily aimed at advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professional philosophers working in philosophy of science, epistemology, or logic who need a concentrated, analytic account of truthlikeness as a theoretical virtue. It is particularly useful for readers interested in formal and conceptual frameworks for evaluating scientific theories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a broad historical overview, an introductory textbook, or a popular treatment of scientific realism should look elsewhere; the text assumes familiarity with philosophical argumentation and the issues surrounding truth and theoretical progress.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareful, explicit argumentation that makes the concept of \u003cstrong\u003etruthlikeness\u003c\/strong\u003e philosophically precise.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConnects modest realist assumptions to substantive conclusions about theoretical comparison and \u003cstrong\u003escientific progress\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConcise focus that avoids unnecessary digressions, making it efficient for specialists.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot intended as an introductory or popular treatment, so it may be dense for general readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLikeness to Truth (The Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eG. Oddie\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePhilosophy of science; truthlikeness and realism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRigorous analysis of likeness to truth and consequences for inquiry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eConceptual and formal philosophical argument\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eThe Western Ontario Series in Philosophy of Science\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor readers committed to a serious study of scientific realism, Likeness to Truth is a compact, high-value contribution that sharpens the concept of truthlikeness and shows why it matters for judging theoretical progress. It is especially valuable for specialists who want a focused, argumentative treatment rather than broad survey material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book suitable for beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book is not a beginner textbook; it assumes familiarity with debates in philosophy of science and analytical argumentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book argue that false theories can be better than true ones?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt argues that a false theory may be more truthlike, or closer to the truth, than another false theory, under modest realist assumptions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the main value of the book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe main value is its rigorous conceptual clarification of \u003cstrong\u003etruthlikeness\u003c\/strong\u003e and the implications for assessing \u003cstrong\u003etheoretical progress\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"G. Oddie","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48635368636635,"sku":"9401085706","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/51CJAxxtb1L._SL1260.jpg?v=1778609802","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/likeness-to-truth-the-western-ontario-series-in-philosophy","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}