A valuable, important, persuasively argued book. Highly recommended. ― Choice Explaining why he embraced the theory of relativity, the Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist P. A. M. Dirac stated, "It is the essential beauty of the theory which I feel is the real reason for believing in it." How reasonable and rational can science be when its practitioners speak of "revolutions" in their thinking and extol certain theories for their "beauty"? James W. McAllister addresses this question with the first systematic study of the aesthetic evaluations that scientists pass on their theories. Using a wealth of other examples, McAllister explains how scientists' aesthetic preferences are influenced by the empirical track record of theories, describes the origin and development of aesthetic styles of theorizing, and reconsiders whether simplicity is an empirical or an aesthetic virtue of theories. McAllister then advances an innovative model of scientific revolutions, in opposition to that of Thomas S. Kuhn. Three detailed studies demonstrate the interconnection of empirical performance, beauty, and revolution. One examines the impact of new construction materials on the history of architecture. Another reexamines the transition from the Ptolemaic system to Kepler's theory in planetary astronomy, and the third documents the rise of relativity and quantum theory in the twentieth century. McAllister (philosophy, Univ. of Leiden) critically explores the influences that aesthetic judgments have on deciding which theories best account for natural phenomena. Given his own rationalist image of scientific practice, he gives priority to objective empirical adequacy over both subjective aesthetic evaluations and traditional metaphysical preferences. Accordingly, he argues that theoretical innovations have aesthetic constraints. McAllister contends that neither Copernicus nor Einstein brought about a true revolution in astronomy or physics, respectively, because each retained the established aesthetic of theory choice. In sharp contrast, introducing ellipses over circles into mathematical astronomy and indeterminism over determinism in quantum physics represent two genuine revolutionary episodes in the history of science. Empirical success and subsequent aesthetic induction result in new norms for the scientific evaluation of future theories. This scholarly analysis of aesthetic predilections and paradigm switchings in scientific communities is recommended for all academic libraries.?H. James Birx, Canisius Coll., Buffalo, N.Y. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. A valuable, important, persuasively argued book. Highly recommended. ― Choice This is a great book. It clearly and concisely does what it sets out to do: it examines the basic philosophical and sociological theories of the role of aesthetics in science, it identifies the critical assumptions and contradictions that differentiate these views, and it provides a carefully reasoned, well-documented and novel approach to the issues. Best of all, the book is eminently readable. Anyone interested in the bases of scientific controversies, the nature of scientific revolutions, or the similarities and differences between the sciences and the arts should definitely read McAllister's book. It may prove to be as fundamental as Thomas S. Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions . ― American Scientist An outstanding contribution to a little developed aspect of the philosophy and history of science. -- Marx W. Wartofsky, Baruch College How reasonable and rational can science be when its practitioners speak of "revolutions" in their thinking and extol certain theories for their "beauty"? James W. McAllister addresses this question with the first systematic study of the aesthetic evaluations that scientists pass on their theories. P. A. M. Dirac explained why he embraced relativity by saying, "It is the essential beauty of the theory which I feel is the real reason for believing in it". Dirac's claim seems to belie rationalist accounts of science. Using this and a wealth of other historical examples, McAllister explains how scientists' aesthetic preferences are influenced by the empirical track record of theories, describes the origin and development of aesthetic styles of theorizing, and reconsiders whether simplicity is an empirical or an aesthetic virtue of theories. McAllister then advances an innovative model of scientific revolutions, in opposition to that of Thomas S. Kuhn. Three detailed studies demonstrate the interconnection of empirical performance, beauty, and revolution. One examines the impact of new construction materials on the history of architecture. Another reexamines the transition from the Ptolemaic system to Kepler's theory in planetary astronomy, and the third documents the rise of relativity and quantum theory in the twentieth century. James W. McAllister is University Lecturer in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Leiden.