Defending Science-Within Reason by Susan Haack

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Summary

Illustrated with examples from the history of science, this book offers a different approach to familiar questions about scientific evidence and method tackles vital questions about science and its place in society. It argues that, fallible and flawed as they are, the natural sciences have been among the most successful of human enterprises.

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Defending Science-Within Reason by Susan Haack

Sweeping in scope, penetrating in analysis, and generously illustrated with examples from the history of science, this new and original approach to familiar questions about scientific evidence and method tackles vital questions about science and its place in society. Avoiding the twin pitfalls of scientism and cynicism, noted philosopher Susan Haack argues that, fallible and flawed as they are, the natural sciences have been among the most successful of human enterprises-valuable not only for the vast, interlocking body of knowledge they have discovered, and not only for the technological advances that have improved our lives, but as a manifestation of the human talent for inquiry at its imperfect but sometimes remarkable best. This wide-ranging, trenchant, and illuminating book explores the complexities of scientific evidence, and the multifarious ways in which the sciences have refined and amplified the methods of everyday empirical inquiry; articulates the ways in which the social sciences are like the natural sciences, and the ways in which they are different; disentangles the confusions of radical rhetoricians and cynical sociologists of science; exposes the evasions of apologists for religious resistance to scientific advances; weighs the benefits and the dangers of technology; tracks the efforts of the legal system to make the best use of scientific testimony; and tackles predictions of the eventual culmination, or annihilation, of the scientific enterprise. Writing with verve and wry humor, in a witty, direct, and accessible style, Haack takes readers beyond the Science Wars to a balanced understanding of the value, and the limitations, of the scientific enterprise.

Susan Haack, formerly of the University of Warwick, is presently at the University of Miami as a Professor of Philosophy. Deviant Logic and Philosophy of Logics, as well as writings on epistemology, metaphysics, and pragmatism, are among her works.

SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781591024583
ISBN 10 1591024587
Title Defending Science-Within Reason
Author Susan Haack
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Paperback
Publisher Prometheus Books
Year published 2007-01-30
Number of pages 432
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.