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This book presents the basics of philosophy that are necessary for the student and researcher in science in order to better understand scientific work. The approach is not historical but formative: tools for semantical analysis, ontology of science, epistemology, and scientific ethics are presented in a formal and direct way. The book has two parts: one with the general theory and a second part with application to some problems such as the interpretation of quantum mechanics, the nature of mathematics, and the ontology of spacetime. The book addresses questions such as "What is meaning?", "What is truth?", "What are truth criteria in science?", "What is a theory?", "What is a model?" "What is a datum?", "What is information?", "What does it mean to understand something?", "What is space?", "What is time?", "How are these concepts articulated in science?" "What are values?" "What are the limits of science?", and many more. The philosophical views presented are "scientific" in the sense that they are informed by current science, they are relevant for scientific research, and the method adopted uses the hypothetical-deductive approach that is characteristic of science. The results and conclusions, as any scientific conclusion, are open to revision in the light of future advances. Hence, this philosophical approach opposes to dogmatic philosophy. Supported by end-of-chapter summaries and a list of special symbols used, the material will be of interest for students and researchers in both science and philosophy. The second part will appeal to physicists and mathematicians.

Genetic epistemology. --- Logic, Symbolic and mathematical. --- Research-Moral and ethical aspec. --- Quantum theory. --- Astronomy. --- History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics. --- Epistemology. --- Mathematical Logic and Foundations. --- Research Ethics. --- Quantum Physics. --- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. --- Quantum dynamics --- Quantum mechanics --- Quantum physics --- Physics --- Mechanics --- Thermodynamics --- Algebra of logic --- Logic, Universal --- Mathematical logic --- Symbolic and mathematical logic --- Symbolic logic --- Mathematics --- Algebra, Abstract --- Metamathematics --- Set theory --- Syllogism --- Developmental psychology --- Knowledge, Theory of --- Science --- Philosophy. --- Physics. --- Mathematical logic. --- Research—Moral and ethical aspects. --- Quantum physics. --- Astrophysics. --- Epistemology --- Theory of knowledge --- Philosophy --- Psychology --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics

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Nearly one half of the point-like gamma-ray sources detected by EGRET instrument of the late Compton satellite are still defeating our attempts at identifying them. To establish the origin and nature of these enigmatic sources has become a major problem of current high-energy astrophysics. The second workshop on Multiwavelength Approach to Unidentified Gamma-ray Sources intends to shed new and fresh light on the problem of the nature of these mysterious sources and the objects behind them. The proceedings contain 46 contributed papers in this subject, which cover theoretical models on gamma-ray sources as well as the best multiwavelength strategies for the identification of the promising candidates. The topics of this conference also include energetic phenomena ocurring both in galactic and extragalactic scenarios, phenomena that might lead to the appearance of what we have called high-energy unidentified sources. The book will be of interest for all active researchers in the high-energy astrophysics and related research areas as well as for scientists and graduate students interested in understanding the recent progress in this field.

Gamma ray sources --- Gamma rays. --- Gamma radiation --- Electromagnetic waves --- Ionizing radiation --- Gamma ray production --- Gamma sources --- Sources, Gamma ray --- Gamma rays --- Radiation sources --- Astronomy. --- Particle and Nuclear Physics. --- Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. --- Measurement Science and Instrumentation. --- Nuclear physics. --- Astrophysics. --- Physical measurements. --- Measurement   . --- Measuring --- Mensuration --- Mathematics --- Technology --- Metrology --- Physical measurements --- Measurements, Physical --- Mathematical physics --- Measurement --- Astronomical physics --- Astronomy --- Cosmic physics --- Physics --- Atomic nuclei --- Atoms, Nuclei of --- Nucleus of the atom

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This book is based on the lecture notes of a one-semester course on black hole astrophysics given  by the author and is aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in astrophysics. The material included goes beyond that found in classic textbooks and presents details on astrophysical manifestations of black holes. In particular, jet physics and detailed accounts of objects like microquasars, active galactic nuclei, gamma-ray bursts, and ultra-luminous X-ray sources are covered, as well as advanced topics like black holes in alternative theories of gravity. The author avoids unnecessary technicalities and to some degree the book is self-contained. The reader will find some basic general relativity tools in Chapter 1. The appendices provide some additional mathematical details that will be useful for further study, and a guide to the bibliography on the subject.

Astrophysics --- Physics --- Theory of relativity. Unified field theory --- Geophysics --- zwaartekracht --- astrofysica --- fysica --- relativiteitstheorie

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Materialism has been the subject of extensive and rich controversies since Robert Boyle introduced the term for the first time in the 17th century. But what is materialism and what can it offer today? The term is usually defined as the worldview according to which everything real is material. Nevertheless, there is no philosophical consensus about whether the meaning of matter can be enlarged beyond the physical. As a consequence, materialism is often defined in stark exclusive and reductionist terms: whatever exists is either physical or ontologically reducible to it. This conception, if consistent, mutilates reality, excluding the ontological significance of political, economic, sociocultural, anthropological and psychological realities. Starting from a new history of materialism, the present book focuses on the central ontological and epistemological debates aroused by today’s leading materialist approaches, including some little known to an anglophone readership. The key concepts of matter, system, emergence, space and time, life, mind, and software are checked over and updated. Controversial issues such as the nature of mathematics and the place of reductionism are also discussed from different materialist approaches. As a result, materialism emerges as a powerful, indispensable scientifically-supported worldview with a surprising wealth of nuances and possibilities.

Knowledge, Theory of. --- Materialism. --- Physicalism --- Animism --- Philosophy --- Positivism --- Dualism --- Idealism --- Mechanism (Philosophy) --- Monism --- Realism --- Epistemology --- Theory of knowledge --- Psychology --- Science --- Philosophy of Science. --- History of Science. --- Philosophy. --- History. --- Normal science --- Philosophy of science

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Materialism has been the subject of extensive and rich controversies since Robert Boyle introduced the term for the first time in the 17th century. But what is materialism and what can it offer today? The term is usually defined as the worldview according to which everything real is material. Nevertheless, there is no philosophical consensus about whether the meaning of matter can be enlarged beyond the physical. As a consequence, materialism is often defined in stark exclusive and reductionist terms: whatever exists is either physical or ontologically reducible to it. This conception, if consistent, mutilates reality, excluding the ontological significance of political, economic, sociocultural, anthropological and psychological realities. Starting from a new history of materialism, the present book focuses on the central ontological and epistemological debates aroused by today's leading materialist approaches, including some little known to an anglophone readership. The key concepts of matter, system, emergence, space and time, life, mind, and software are checked over and updated. Controversial issues such as the nature of mathematics and the place of reductionism are also discussed from different materialist approaches. As a result, materialism emerges as a powerful, indispensable scientifically-supported worldview with a surprising wealth of nuances and possibilities.

Philosophy of science --- Pure sciences. Natural sciences (general) --- wetenschapsgeschiedenis --- wetenschapsfilosofie