Abstract

The author traces the development of the concept of an empirical scientific theory from pre-critical thought through Aristotle. Parmenides is credited with recognizing the distinction between abstract concepts and the empirical world. Zeno's paradoxes and the skepticism of the sophists are seen not only as the two major obstacles to any empirical theory but also as containing implicitly the criteria of a theory, i.e., that it must not lead to paradoxes, and that it be objectively true. Plato, in his Sophist, proves that an empirical theory is possible by resolving the paradoxes and by refuting the sophists' claim that false belief is impossible. The second part of Plato's Parmenides is seen as an attempt to present and evaluate alternative "structures of the world". Finally, the author discusses Aristotle's Physics as a thoroughly worked out theory. The author's frequent use of the technical terminology of contemporary philosophy of science helps him to bring these ancient works up to date, but also yields interpretations which are anachronistic. The book is original and often insightful.—R. J. K.