Description

Muhammad Ali Khalidi proposes a new approach to classifications in the natural and social sciences, avoiding essentialism and social constructionism. In this book, Muhammad Ali Khalidi draws on a detailed examination of classification in the natural and social sciences to argue against essentialism and for a naturalist account of natural kinds. His book is a significant contribution to the growing movement towards naturalism in recent philosophy. In this book, Muhammad Ali Khalidi draws on a detailed examination of classification in the natural and social sciences to argue against essentialism and for a naturalist account of natural kinds. His book is a significant contribution to the growing movement towards naturalism in recent philosophy. The notion of 'natural kinds' has been central to contemporary discussions of metaphysics and philosophy of science. Although explicitly articulated by nineteenth-century philosophers like Mill, Whewell and Venn, it has a much older history dating back to Plato and Aristotle. In recent years, essentialism has been the dominant account of natural kinds among philosophers, but the essentialist view has encountered resistance, especially among naturalist metaphysicians and philosophers of science. Informed by detailed examination of classification in the natural and social sciences, this book argues against essentialism and for a naturalist account of natural kinds. By looking at case studies drawn from diverse scientific disciplines, from fluid mechanics to virology and polymer science to psychiatry, the author argues that natural kinds are nodes in causal networks. On the basis of this account, he maintains that there can be natural kinds in the social sciences as well as the natural sciences. Preface; 1. Realism and essentialism about kinds; 2. The naturalness of kinds; 3. Kinds in the special sciences; 4. Kinds in the biological and social sciences; 5. Kinds of natural kinds; 6. Naturalising kinds. 'Muhammad Ali Khalidi has given us the best articulated treatment to date of a flexible, naturalistic approach to natural kinds. His wide-ranging treatment of kinds in the special sciences is especially noteworthy. Moreover, the book is so well written that it works well as an introduction to this difficult topic area as well as providing plenty of stimulation for seasoned professionals. It will surely be at the center of future discussion among scientific philosophers and philosophical scientists.' Tom Nickles, University of Nevada, Reno '[Natural Categories and Human Kinds] is to my mind the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and interesting book-length treatment of natural kinds available today. Both newcomers to this area of inquiry and seasoned veterans will doubtless benefit from its study. Khalidi's straightforward prose and careful argument makes the book a pleasure to read and think about; his patient stage-setting and summary make it an excellent option for advanced undergraduate courses in the philosophy of science.' Matthew H. Slater, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science '… this seems to me the best general treatment of natural kinds for many years. It provides an important contribution to the general naturalistic trend of contemporary philosophy of science. It is always clearly written and clearly argued, and it would provide an excellent basis for seminars on its topic at levels up to the postgraduate … I suspect it will reinvigorate discussion of what will continue to be seen as a ce