Abstract

This vastly overpriced book contains 22 papers by the late Norwood Hanson. All of them have appeared previously except 3 lectures on "The Theory of Flight." "A Picture Theory of Theory-Meaning," which is announced as unpublished, actually does appear in a slightly modified version, under the same title, in The Nature and Function of Scientific Theories. The essays are divided into 6 parts: Part I: Philosophy of Science ; Part II: History of Science ; Part III: General Philosophy ; Part IV: Logic ; Part V: Religion ; and Part VI: The Theory of Flight. A wide variety of topics are discussed, all exemplifying Hanson’s immense versatility in philosophy, and both the history and philosophy of science, as well as his inimitable style. There is some degree of overlap in Parts IV and V. The most interesting selections, both because they readily display the range of Hanson’s talent and because they have not appeared in print elsewhere are those on "The Theory of Flight." In these lectures, Hanson was concerned to examine the concept of flight, both philosophically and historically. In the first lecture, he argues that Aristotle’s account of flight is astonishingly modern in its fundamental features, despite some basic deficiencies. In the second lecture, he discusses the growth of the basic idea that flight is a subject for scientific consideration, such considerations eventuating in the construction of a flying machine. Of interest here is the way Leonardo and almost everyone else was misled by observing the flight of birds to conclude that the flapping of wings was somehow essential to flight. The third lecture investigates the struggle towards the airfoil shape as the most efficient and practicable for flight.—M. B.