Science, Truth, and DemocracyStriving to boldly redirect the philosophy of science, this book by renowned philosopher Philip Kitcher examines the heated debate surrounding the role of science in shaping our lives. Kitcher explores the sharp divide between those who believe that the pursuit of scientific knowledge is always valuable and necessary--the purists--and those who believe that it invariably serves the interests of people in positions of power. In a daring turn, he rejects both perspectives, working out a more realistic image of the sciences--one that allows for the possibility of scientific truth, but nonetheless permits social consensus to determine which avenues to investigate. He then proposes a democratic and deliberative framework for responsible scientists to follow. Controversial, powerful, yet engaging, this volume will appeal to a wide range of readers. Kitcher's nuanced analysis and authoritative conclusion will interest countless scientists as well as all readers of science--scholars and laypersons alike. |
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Contents
Chapter 10 WellOrdered Science | 117 |
Chapter 11 Elitism Democracy and Science Policy | 137 |
Chapter 12 Subversive Truth and Ideals of Progress | 147 |
Chapter 13 The Luddites Laments | 167 |
Chapter 14 Research in an Imperfect World | 181 |
Afterword | 199 |
Essay on Sources | 203 |
Index | 215 |
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Common terms and phrases
accepted achieve actual advance answer apply argument attempts beliefs benefits causal chapter claims collective conception concerns conclusions consequences consider course critics decisions defended deliberators discussion distinction ends epistemic evidence example expected explanation further genetic genomes genuine given goals human idea ideal identify important individual inquiry interests issues it's judgments kinds knowledge laws lines lives maps methods moral nature notion objects observable obvious offered organisms particular past perhaps political possible practical predictions preferences present Press probabilities problems projects proposal pursuing question realism reason recognize reflect represent respect response scientific scientists significance situation social society sometimes standard strategy structure success suggest suppose tests theory there's things tion truth turn types understanding University Press well-ordered science
Popular passages
Page 95 - The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs or impede their efforts to obtain it.
Page 67 - WHEN I wrote my treatise about our system, I had an eye upon such principles as might work with considering men for the belief of a Deity ; and nothing can rejoice me more than to find it useful for that purpose.
Page 148 - Oh devil ! truth is better than much profit. I have searched over the grounds of my belief, and if wife and child and name and fame were all to be lost to me one after the other as the penalty, still I will not lie.
Page 138 - The information, the techniques, and the research experience developed by the Office of Scientific Research and Development and by the thousands of scientists in the universities and in private industry, should be used in the days of peace ahead for the improvement of the national health, the creation of new enterprises bringing new jobs, and the betterment of the national standard of living.
Page 138 - Science offers a largely unexplored hinterland for the pioneer who has the tools for his task. The rewards of such exploration both for the Nation and the individual are great. Scientific progress is one essential key to our security as a nation, to our better health, to more jobs, to a higher standard of living, and to our cultural progress.
Page 89 - Once the rockets are up, who cares where they come down — that's not my department, says Wernher von Braun.
Page 142 - We think we probably would not, even if we were all-wise and allknowing, write you a plan whereby you would be assured of scientific leadership at one stroke. We think as we think because we are not interested in setting up an elect. We...
Page 146 - ... consequence of accidents of decision? It depends at present on the decisions of students about specialisation at school and university, and the decisions made in the past about the educational facilities to be provided; both sets of decisions being made without any clear idea of the national need. It seems to me that, though this is not entirely an economic matter, it is only from economics that any guidance will at present be obtained. In other words, it is possible to give some sort of answer...
Page 91 - The Republic of Science: Its Political and Economic Theory," in Criteria for Scientific Development: Public Policy and National Goals, ed. Edward Shils (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1968), pp. 120. Donald T. Campbell, "Ethnocentrism of Disciplines and the FishScale Model of Omniscience," in Interdisciplinary Relationships in the Social Sciences, ed.
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | Science, Truth, and Democracy An Oxford University paperback Oxford Studies in the Philosophy of Science |
| Author | Philip Kitcher |
| Edition | illustrated, revised |
| Publisher | OUP USA, 2003 |
| ISBN | 0195165527, 9780195165524 |
| Length | 219 pages |
| Subjects | › › Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General Philosophy / General Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects Social Science / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |