Science and the Quest for Reality

Science and the Quest for Reality is an interdisciplinary anthology that situates contemporary science within its complex philosophical, historical, and sociological contexts. The anthology is divided between, firstly, characterizing science as an intellectual activity and, secondly, defining its social role. The philosophical and historical vicissitudes of science's truth claims has raised profound questions concerning the role of science in society beyond its technological innovations. The deeper philosophical issues thus complement the critical inquiry concerning the broader social and ethical influence of contemporary science. In the tradition of the 'Main Trends of the Modern World' series, this volume includes both classical and contemporary works on the subject.

Contenu
Series Preface; Robert Jackall & Arthur J.Vidich - Preface; Alfred I.Tauber - Introduction; Alfred I.Tauber - SCIENCE AND ITS WORLD VIEW - The Origins of Modern Science; A.N.Whitehead - The Age of the World Picture; M.Heidegger - THE PROBLEM OF SCIENTIFIC REALISM - The Strange World of the Quantum; P.C.W.Davies & J.Brown - The Development of Philosophical Ideas since Descartes in Comparison with the New Situation in Quantum Theory; W.Heisenberg - Explaining the Success of Science: Beyond Epistemic Realism and Relativism; L.Laudan - Experimentation and Scientific Realism; I.Hacking - The Paradox of Scientific Subjectivity; E.F.Keller - THE NATURE OF SCIENTIFIC CHANGE - Theories of Scientific Change; R.Richards - The Road Since Structure; T.Kuhn - THE BOUNDARIES OF SCIENCE - Four Models of the Dynamics of Science; M.Callon - Boundaries of Science; T.Gieryn - SCIENCE AND VALUES - Ethical Problems in Using Science in the Regulatory Process; N.A. Ashford & K.A. Gregory - Ethics and Science; R.S.Cohen - Beyond the Fact/Value Dichotomy; H.Putnam - Darwin and Philosophy; M.Grene - Science as a Vocation; M.Weber - Acknowledgements - Notes on the Contributors - Index