How science textbooks provide philosophical normative or celebratory -- accounts of science - Essay Example

Science refers to a rational and realistic endeavor involving the logical study of the configuration and behavior of the natural as well as physical world through experiments and observation. In its simplest sense, it encompasses an intensive human effort to understand the origin of the natural world and how it works by incorporating an array of evidence as a foundation for understanding. In philosophy, the attempt to understand the world infers that philosophers adopt certain scientific reasoning (Achinstein 17).

In fact, a branch of philosophy exists, which deals with the fundamentals, methods and implications of science. However, the main aim of philosophy is to uncover what exactly qualifies as a science, the efficiency of scientific theories it comes with and the primary rationale for science itself. Scientific textbooks act as basis for understanding various accounts of science in different perspectives. Basically, this essay recognizes the fact that these textbooks are indeed fundamental in understanding both philosophical normative and celebratory accounts of science.

Perhaps, the principal question is whether they offer adequate normative and celebratory accounts of science. The above thesis is supported by a look at both normative and celebratory accounts as follows. Usually, normative accounts of science involve an attempt to relate certain reasoning to an ultimate model while basing such reasoning to what is perceived to be right and normal. Scientific textbooks do make claims on how things should be, how to rate them, the identity of good and bad, and recognition of the wrong and right components of the claims.

Arguably, the normative nature of a statement is independent of whether it is verifiable, can be verified or majority held. Significantly, normative claims and their meanings are an important part of human life. They help man in his daily organization and thought planning. Thus, they are essential to decision making especially those involving distinction of political and ethical discourses. Therefore, the use of scientific textbooks in understanding philosophical normative contexts is without doubt a beneficial way of appreciating scientific accounts (Achinstein 51).

On the other hand, these textbooks also offer a basis for understanding philosophical celebratory accounts of science. Science attempts to unravel certain happenings and explain why they are exactly so. Scientific realists assert that the main aim of science is to state the truth and that individuals should consider representative theories as ultimate truths, nearly true or likely to be true. There exist various aspects of understanding scientific accounts. Celebratory accounts are also explained in science textbooks.

For instance, in the Middle Ages, many people believed in superstitions yet they were unable to explain their origin. However, the philosophers of this era came out to explain such celebrated beliefs and whether they were scientifically correct and true (Achinstein 112). Therefore, the documentation by various textbooks of science is significant in recognizing the works of great philosophers. In sum, there is a wide acknowledgment by philosophers that science textbooks offer great philosophical explanations into various accounts of science.

The most widely accepted sentiment is that science offers sufficient platform for understanding the world and activities and humans. For that reason, it clear that science textbooks are important to a wide range of professionals, philosophers alike. (532 words) Works CitedAchinstein, Peter. Science Rules: A Historical Introduction to Scientific Methods. Baltimore, Mar: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004. Print.