The One Culture?: A Conversation about ScienceJay A. Labinger, Harry Collins So far the "Science Wars" have generated far more heat than light. Combatants from one or the other of what C. P. Snow famously called "the two cultures" (science versus the arts and humanities) have launched bitter attacks but have seldom engaged in constructive dialogue about the central issues. In The One Culture?, Jay A. Labinger and Harry Collins have gathered together some of the world's foremost scientists and sociologists of science to exchange opinions and ideas rather than insults. The contributors find surprising areas of broad agreement in a genuine conversation about science, its legitimacy and authority as a means of understanding the world, and whether science studies undermines the practice and findings of science and scientists. The One Culture? is organized into three parts. The first consists of position papers written by scientists and sociologists of science, which were distributed to all the participants. The second presents commentaries on these papers, drawing out and discussing their central themes and arguments. In the third section, participants respond to these critiques, offering defenses, clarifications, and modifications of their positions. Who can legitimately speak about science? What is the proper role of scientific knowledge? How should scientists interact with the rest of society in decision making? Because science occupies such a central position in the world today, such questions are vitally important. Although there are no simple solutions, The One Culture? does show the reader exactly what is at stake in the Science Wars, and provides a valuable framework for how to go about seeking the answers we so urgently need. Contributors include: Constance K. Barsky, Jean Bricmont, Harry Collins, Peter Dear, Jane Gregory, Jay A. Labinger, Michael Lynch, N. David Mermin, Steve Miller, Trevor Pinch, Peter R. Saulson, Steven Shapin, Alan Sokal, Steven Weinberg, Kenneth G. Wilson |
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The One Culture?: A Conversation about Science Jay A. Labinger,Harry Collins No preview available - 2001 |
The One Culture?: A Conversation about Science Jay A. Labinger,Harry Collins No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
academic Alan Sokal antiscience argue argument astrology Barnes believe Bloor Bricmont and Sokal causal Chapter claims cold fusion Collins and Pinch Collins’s course criticism critique cultural David Bloor David Mermin debate discussion Einstein empirical ence epistemographical epistemological essay evidence example experiments expertise explanation fact Geison Golem gravitational wave Harry Collins historians history of science human ideas interesting issue Jean Bricmont kind Kuhn Labinger laws of physics Levitt matter ments metascientific methodological relativism natural world objective Perutz philosophical relativism physicists political position practice practitioners problems public understanding quantum question radical reality reason relativist relativity replication role Saulson science studies science wars scientific knowledge scientific theories scientists seems sense Shapin skepticism social sociologists sociology of science sociology of scientific statements Steven Steven Weinberg Strong Programme suggest things tion Trevor Pinch truth undermining understanding of science Weinberg Wittgenstein
References to this book
Scandalous Knowledge: Science, Truth and the Human Barbara Herrnstein Smith No preview available - 2005 |
The Knowable and the Unknowable: Modern Science, Nonclassical Thought, and ... Arkady Plotnitsky No preview available - 2002 |