Rigler, Frank H., Peters, Robert H. Science and limnology

Oldendorf/Luhe, Germany: Ecology Institute, 1995. — XXVI+240 p. — (Excellence in Ecology 6). The sixth book in the series 'Excellence in Ecology' reaches far into the realms of science history, philosophy and methodology, the significance of science for society, and the research and teaching in universities. It
documents that ecologists have collected impressive amounts of observations and facts, but that they have failed to sufficiently identify and formulate theories which go beyond the facts — theories that can be tested and that can predict.
The book consists of the following sections: (I) Why read about science, (II) A brief history of method, (III) Normal science and pseudo-science, (IV) The ecologists' disease: Two personal examples, (V) Broader symptoms of the ecologists' disease, (VI) Why limnology? (VII) Reductionism versus holism: An old problem rejuvenated by the computer, (VIII)Sources of ecological creativity, (IX) Empirical limnology, (X) An education in science: Evaluation, (XI) An education in science: Prescriptions, (XII) The questions of relevance, (XIII) Funding decisions, (XIV) Darwin and evolutionary science, (XV) Is the future grim?