Wittgenstein's Beetle and other Classic Thought Experiments

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by Martin Cohen

Blackwell Publishers

Due/Published December 2004, 152 pages, paper

ISBN 1405121920

Wittgenstein's Beetle and Other Classic Thought Experiments invites readers to participate actively in discovering the surprisingly powerful and fruitful tradition of "thought experiments." Across a broad spectrum of philosophy and science, thought experiments have played a central and significant role, elucidating complicated puzzles, problems, and ideas in the "laboratory of the mind".Lively exemplars from this fascinating history make up the heart of the book, consisting of celebrated and influential though experiments-along with a few undeservedly neglected and forgotten ones-including Newton's Bucket, Lucretius' Spear, Salvatius' Ship, Plato's Cave, Wittgenstein's Beetle, and many others. Each experiment is followed by a brief discussion offering possible inferences and consequences, as well as describing diverse reactions to the experiment and the issues it raises.Also featuring a gregarious and informative capsule history of thought experiments, together with sound advice on how to construct your own experiments, a helpful glossary, and an index.