The Knowledge Machine

The best introduction to the scientific enterprise that I know. Its brevity and simplicity cannot conceal the boldness of its conception, the extraordinary scope of its ambition. A wonderful and important book. – David Wootton, author of The Invention of ScienceA stylish and accessible investigation into the nature of the scientific method. – Nigel Warburton * Philosophy Bites *This elegant book takes us to the heart of the scientific enterprise. – David Papineau, King’s College London, author of Knowing the ScoreThis book is a delight to read, richly illustrated with wonderfully told incidents from the history of natural science. – Nancy Cartwright, University of California San DiegoPowerful, bracingly argued and important. There is something here for everyone – for the expert, who will be challenged to rethink what science really is; for the layperson, who will rejoice in Strevens’s deft and witty storytelling; and for the student, who will find a friendly and authoritative guide to Newton, Einstein, Popper, Kuhn, and all that. – Jim Holt, author of ‘Why Does the World Exist?’Beautifully lucid and accessible. A rare achievement, it is entertaining and edifying all at once. – Paul Boghassian, New York UniversityAn engaging must-read. – Manjit Kumar, author of QuantumThe most stunningly illuminating book of the last several decades regarding the all-important scientific enterprise. Not only profoundly insightful but rollicking good fun. – Rebecca Newberger Goldstein, author of Plato at the GoogleplexAs thrilling to read as it is important. Captivating. – Nathan Heller, New Yorker staff writer

Michael Strevens is a professor of philosophy at New York University, and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2017. He was born in New Zealand and has been writing about the philosophy of science for twenty-five years. He lives in New York.