Pluto's Republic
by P. B. Medawar · first published 1982
2mentions
1recommended by
2HN commenters
2022–2026first – last mentioned
50% recommend50% neutral
This is a truly extraordinary introduction to the philosophy of science by a real practitioner. Even though some 'professional' philosophers of science may object to Medawar's use of Popper's theories (about which they have already a settled, and mostly negative, opinion), the fact that the author really knows, and knows from the inside, how science works offsets any weak points in the book - and there are very few such points.
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Pluto's Republic: Incorporating The Art of the Soluble and Induction and Intuition in Scientific Thought by Peter Medawar
on “Ask HN: What’s an older nonfiction title that’s relevant and blew your mind?” ↗Heh. Peter Medawar's Pluto's Republic isn't Plato's Republic but it's title was prompted by people so confidently and blatently incorrect about content and author that they deserved a shoutout.
on “Texas A&M university is banning Plato, citing his "gender ideology"” ↗