A provocative survey of interdisciplinary challenges to the concept of reductionism. During the last few decades, the fundamental premises of the modern view of knowledge have been increasingly called into question. Questioning Nineteenth-Century Assumptions about Knowledge II: Reductionism provides an in-depth look at the debates surrounding the status of "reductionism" in the sciences, social sciences, and the humanities in detailed and wide-ranging...

Copyright law is a critical issue for authors, librarians, publishers, and information vendors. It is also a complex area, with many shades of gray. Librarians continually need to seek answers to questions ranging from the reproduction of copyrighted works for library users, through the performance of audiovisual works, to the digitization and display of protected works on library websites. This book presents updated versions of the author's copyright...

Contained in the immensity and depths of the Earth's oceans, many of the planet's species and resources thrive far away from the reaches of human civilization. With expanses that have yet to be discovered and enormous reservoirs of untapped potential, oceans provide fodder for all manners of research. This informative volume describes the features and properties of the bodies of water that make up 70 percent of the world's surface as well as the various...

From the food available at the local store to the clothes we choose to wear every day, weather determines many of the major decisions we make and the actions we pursue. While we may not be able to control the weather, understanding the factors that cause a hurricane or allow us to plant certain crops, for example, can help us better prepare for both natural disasters and our daily lives. Detailed illustrations and photographs, interesting sidebars,...

Some of the planet's most destructive forces-including earthquakes and volcanic activity-are caused by the same factors that helped shape much of the Earth as it is today. Plate tectonics, or movement of the Earth's outer layers, can occur in a number of different ways and produce a range of results, some minor and others far more considerable or devastating. Distinct maps, interesting sidebars, and annotated illustrations of the Earth's layers are...

It may be hard to believe that the Earth, with all the complexity and biodiversity we observe today, originated in a cloud of gas and dust. Yet much of the plant and animal life that seems so common now evolved relatively recently on the timeline of Earth's long history. The Earth's remarkable origins are chronicled in this insightful volume, which also examines the prehistoric organisms-from bacteria to dinosaurs-that populated the planet long before...

Updated for 2013, Ecology is one title in the Britannica Illustrated Science Library Series. Long ago when people still lived in caves-perhaps at the same time when they developed habits that were different from those of other animals- humans began to practice ecology. They became keen observers of nature through such basic and instinctive actions as tracking both large wild animals and small prey, discerning edible plants from poisonous ones, and...

Updated for 2013, the Environment is one title in the Britannica Illustrated Science Library Series. It does not take an expert in environmental science to realize that the world is changing. Is it getting warmer? It depends on where you live. Global warming does not necessarily mean that where you live it will be warmer. For most of the people on the planet, the changes to the climate are virtually imperceptible. That is not the case for many plants...

Updated for 2013, Fish and Amphibians, is one book in the Britannica Illustrated Science Library Series that covers today's most popular science topics, from digital TV to microchips to touchscreens and beyond. Perennial subjects in earth science, life science, and physical science are all explored in detail. Amazing graphics-more than 1,000 per title-combined with concise summaries help students understand complex subjects. Correlated to the science...

Updated for 2013, The Human Body II, is one book in the Britannica Illustrated Science Library Series that covers today's most popular science topics, from digital TV to microchips to touchscreens and beyond. Perennial subjects in earth science, life science, and physical science are all explored in detail. Amazing graphics-more than 1,000 per title-combined with concise summaries help students understand complex subjects. Correlated to the science...