Biophilosophy

'- On the importance of Biophilosophy; Definitions.- 1 Theories and Hypotheses.- 1.1 Introduction - Questions and problems.- 1.2 The Aim of Science - General and singular propositions. Theories, laws, rules, hypotheses, auxiliary hypotheses, ad hoc hypotheses, working hypotheses, models, facts.- 1.3 Scientific Methodology or How We Gain Scientific Knowledge.- 1.3.1 General Considerations - Importance of methodology. Laboratory methodology.- 1.3.2 Induction and the Hypothetico-deductive Method.- 1.3.3 Validation of Hypotheses, or: Is Certainty Attainable?.- 1.3.3.1 The First Postulate of Validation - Hypotheses may be proved (justificationism). Criticism.- 1.3.3.2 The Second Postulate of Validation - Hypotheses cannot be proved, but may be disproved (falsified) (falsificationism). Criticism.- 1.3.3.3 The Third Postulate of Validation - Hypotheses can neither be proved, nor disproved; they may only be either confirmed or disconfirmed. Internal and external factors of science.- 1.3.4 A Systems Model of Scientific Methodology (Laszlo's Model) - Empirical input, ideals (values) of science, and the relation of resistance factors to innovation. Irrationally in science. Demarcation of science.- 1.4 Is Scientific Progress Possible? - Incommensurability. Progress within paradigms. Coexistence of schools of thought. Unity of science. Complementarity and perspectivism.- 1.5 The Semantic View of Theories.- 1.6 Conclusions.- 1.7 Summary.- 2 Laws, Explanation, Prediction, and Understanding.- 2.1 Laws - Definition. Deterministic and probalistic laws. Accidental generalizations. Process and coexistence laws. Law and order versus chaos: is nature lawful?.- 2.2 Explanation - Two basic requirements for scientific explanation. Deductive-nomological explanation. Probabilistic explanation. Covering-law model of explanation versus narrative explanation. Other notions of explanation.- 2.3 Prediction - Characterization. Comparison of prediction and explanation. Predictive power and its