Exploring Humans

Science is the most powerful generator of knowledge. No one seems to doubt that scientists steadily reveal the secrets of the world and human behaviour. But what exactly is the scientific method? Does science really offer insight into the nature of the world and the interactions of humans?

Exploring Humans examines how philosophers have struggled with these questions. The book highlights their influence on thinking about social sciences such as economics, psychology and sociology. By presenting cases and reassessing the traditions of pragmatism and naturalism, it explores and defends the idea that science does indeed off er the most accurate account of humans and the world.

In this revised edition, the reader not only finds numerous updates, further clarifications, and additional topics, but also four philosophy of science cases in the domain of law, and a new final chapter which explicitly defends the claim that, across the board, science is the only reliable source of information for ‘exploring humans’.


‘This impressive book prepares students to appreciate and critique the contemporary social sciences through illuminating exposition and analysis of the major contributors to our modern understanding of science.’
William Bechtel, University of California, San Diego

‘Exploring Humans is amazingly exhaustive for a textbook, and goes quite far beyond the philosophy of the social sciences. ‘
Bas van Fraassen, San Francisco State University and professor emeritus at Princeton University

‘[The authors] present problems, questions, and debates – basic ones, but also pretty complex ones – in a crystal-clear and easy to read prose. This is an admirable achievement.’
International Studies in the Philosophy of Science