This collection investigates how the theoretical practices of physics can be analyzed through the lens of literary and critical theory to better understand the nature of scientific discourse. R.I.G. Hughes, a scholar in the philosophy of science, utilizes a methodology that treats foundational physics texts and journal articles as primary documents for critical interpretation. By applying this framework, the author argues that the philosopher of science functions effectively as a critic, uncovering the underlying structures of explanation, representation, and modeling within the discipline.

Scholars in the philosophy of science recognize this work as a distinct contribution to the study of scientific texts as discursive objects. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a background in both philosophy and theoretical physics to fully grasp the author's arguments.