•  51
    Kepler's Move from Orbs to Orbits: Documenting a Revolutionary Scientific Concept
    with Bernard R. Goldstein
    Perspectives on Science 13 (1): 74-111. 2005.
    This study of the concept of orbit is intended to throw light on the nature of revolutionary concepts in science. We observe that Kepler transformed theoretical astronomy that was understood in terms of orbs [Latin: orbes] and models , by introducing a single term, orbit [Latin: orbita], that is, the path of a planet in space resulting from the action of physical causes expressed in laws of nature. To demonstrate the claim that orbit is a revolutionary concept we pursue three lines of argument. …Read more
  •  216
    Exploiting errors
    Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 29 (3): 465-480. 1998.
  •  26
    Error and Uncertainty in Scientific Practice (edited book)
    with Marcel Boumans and Arthur C. Petersen
    Pickering & Chatto. 2014.
    Assessment of error and uncertainty is a vital component of both natural and social science. This edited volume presents case studies of research practices across a wide spectrum of scientific fields. It compares methodologies and presents the ingredients needed for an overarching framework applicable to all.
  •  345
    A critical note on J. S. mill's classification of fallacies
    British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 42 (2): 263-268. 1991.
  •  3
    Explanation (edited book)
    with S. Rakover
    Springer Verlag. 2001.
  •  45
    Unpacking "For Reasons of Symmetry": Two Categories of Symmetry Arguments
    with Bernard R. Goldstein
    Philosophy of Science 73 (4): 419-439. 2006.
    Hermann Weyl succeeded in presenting a consistent overarching analysis that accounts for symmetry in material artifacts, natural phenomena, and physical theories. Weyl showed that group theory is the underlying mathematical structure for symmetry in all three domains. But in this study Weyl did not include appeals to symmetry arguments which, for example, Einstein expressed as “for reasons of symmetry”. An argument typically takes the form of a set of premises and rules of inference that lead to…Read more