Astronomy and philosophy - conceptual and methodological foundations and challenges - edited by Steven J. Dick

Jul 30, 2026

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Astronomy and Philosophy examines the conceptual and methodological problems that arise when philosophical inquiry meets astronomical practice. Contributions from historians, philosophers, and pioneering scientists address metaphysical questions about reality, the limits of reasoning, and the challenges of observation and inference. The discussion spans space, time, life, intelligence, and the epistemology of key concepts, grounded in examples from Mars “canals” to exoplanets, black holes, dark matter, and the multiverse. Written for researchers while remaining accessible to curious readers, it also includes an editor profile and publication context.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages467

Reading Time19 h 37 min

Overview

Philosophy and the practice of astronomy

Themes and foundational challenges

Examples and case studies

Audience and interdisciplinary coverage

Publication information

Bibliographic and legal details

DOI and cataloging identifiers

ASTRONOMY AND PHILOSOPHY Philosophical problems fundamentally infuse the theory and practice of astronomy. Bringing together ﬁfteen historians, ten philosophers, and ﬁve pioneering scientists, this volume provides a rigorous yet largely accessible examination of the conceptual and methodological challenges that lie at the intersection of philosophy and astronomy – broadly construed to include observational and theoretical astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, space science, and astrobiology. Drawing largely on interdisciplinary advances from the past two centuries, the book’s chapters tackle metaphysical inquiries into the fundamental nature of reality, the limits of reasoning, the problematic nature of observation and inference, the role of technology, and the epistemology of concepts such as space, time, life, and intelligence. Discussions are anchored to fascinating theories and examples from the “canals” of Mars to exoplanets, black holes, dark matter, and the multiverse. Written primarily for practicing scientists, this volume will also serve historians and philosophers of science, as well as the curious general reader. steven j. dick is an astronomer and historian of science. He was NASA’s Chief Historian and Director of the NASA History Ofﬁce from 2003 until 2009 . He has also served as an astronomer and historian at the US Naval Observatory, and as the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology. He is the author or editor of twenty-ﬁve books, including most recently Astrobiology, Discovery, and Societal Impact (Cambridge University Press, 2018), which won the 2019 PROSE award for Cosmology and Astronomy from the Association of American Publishers. He is the recipient of numerous awards and societal fellowships. Minor planet 6544 Steven Dick was named in his honor by the International Astronomical Union. Frontispiece: “A Juggler of Worlds,” symbolizing the many issues that arise in the philosophy of astronomy, ranging from the epistemological and metaphysical to the societal and sociological. Illustration by J. J. Grandville from Un Autre Monde, Paris, 1844 . ASTRONOMY AND PHILOSOPHY Conceptual and Methodological Foundations and Challenges Edited by STEVEN J . DICK Former NASA Chief Historian Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8EA, United Kingdom One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10006, USA 477 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne, VIC 3207, Australia 314–321, 3rd Floor, Plot 3, Splendor Forum, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi – 110025, India Cambridge University Press is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge. We share the University’s mission to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. [www.cambridge.org](www.cambridge.org) Information on this [title: www.cambridge.org/9781009621137](title: www.cambridge.org/9781009621137)[ ](title: www.cambridge.org/9781009621137)DOI: 10. 1017/9781009621168 © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. When citing this work, please include a reference to the DOI 10.1017/9781009621168 First published 2026 A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Dick, Steven J. editor Title: Astronomy and philosophy : conceptual and methodological foundations and challenges / edited by Steven J. Dick. Description: Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY, USA : Cambridge University Press, 2026 . | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identiﬁers: LCCN 2026017337 (print) | LCCN 2026017338 (ebook) | ISBN 9781009621137 hardback | ISBN 978

FAQs

What intersection does the book focus on between astronomy and philosophy?

The book explores how philosophical problems permeate both the theory and practice of astronomy, including observational and theoretical astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, space science, and astrobiology.

Which major issues are discussed in the chapters?

Chapters address metaphysical inquiries into reality, limits of reasoning, and the problematic nature of observation and inference, along with the role of technology and the epistemology of concepts such as space, time, life, and intelligence.

What examples are used to ground the philosophical discussions?

Discussions draw on theories and examples ranging from Mars “canals” to exoplanets, black holes, dark matter, and the multiverse.

Jul 30, 2026

Upload by Jiven