The Challenge of the Social and the Pressure of Practice : Science and Values Revisited

In The Challenge of the Social and the Pressure of Practice, philosophers, sociologists, and historians of science offer a multidisciplinary view of the complex interrelationships of values in science and society in both contemporary and historic contexts. They analyze the impact of commercialization and politicization on epistemic aspirations, and, conversely, the ethical dilemmas raised by "practically relevant" science in today's society. For example, much scientific research over the past quarter century has been guided by the financing that supports it. What effect has this had on the quality of research produced and the advancement of real knowledge? The contributors reveal how social values affect objectivity, theory, and the direction of inquiry, and examine the byproducts of external value systems in topics such as "expertise" and "socially robust knowledge," among others. They view science's own internal value systems, the earlier disconnection of societal values from the scientific process, and the plausibility of "value free" science. The Challenge of the Social and the Pressure of Practice presents an in-depth analysis that places the role of values at the center of philosophical debate and raises questions of morality, credibility, and the future role of values in scientific inquiry. Introduction: Science And The Social / Martin Carrier -- Part I. The Play Of Values Within The Core Areas Of Scientific Research -- Must Evidence Underdetermine Theory? / John D. Norton -- Values And Their Intersection : Reduction As Methodology And Ideology / Margaret Morrison -- Values, Heuristics, And The Politics Of Knowledge / Helen E. Longino -- Replacing The Ideal Of Value-free Science / Janet A. Kourany -- Scientific Values And The Values Of Science / Jay F. Rosenberg -- Part Ii. The Demands Of Society On Science : Socially Robust Knowledge And Expertise -- How Robust Is Socially Robust Knowledge? / Peter Weingart -- In Defense Of Some Sweeping Claims About Socially Robust Knowledge / Roger Strand -- Third Wave Science Studies : Toward A History And Philosophy Of Expertise / Christopher Hamlin -- Part Iii. The Exigencies Of Research Funding : Epistemic Values And Economic Benefit -- The Community Of Science / James Robert Brown -- Science In The Grip Of The Economy : On The Epistemic Impact Of The Commercialization Of Research / Martin Carrier -- Promoting Disinterestedness Or Making Use Of Bias? : Interests And Moral Obligation In Commercialized Research / Matthias Adam. Edited By Martin Carrier, Don Howard, And Janet Kourany. The Origin Of The Present Volume Was A Conference On Science And Values Held At The Center For Interdisciplinary Research (zif) In Biefield, Germany, In July 2003--p. Vii. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Subject: Introduction: science and the social / Martin Carrier -- Part I: The play of values within the core areas of scientific research -- Must evidence underdetermine theory? / John D. Norton -- Values and their intersection : reduction as methodology and ideology / Margaret Morrison -- Values, heuristics, and the politics of knowledge / Helen E. Longino -- Replacing the ideal of value-free science / Janet A. Kourany -- Scientific values and the values of science / Jay F. Rosenberg -- The demands of society on science : socially robust knowledge and expertise -- How robust is "socially robust knowledge"? / Peter Weingart -- In defense of some sweeping claims about socially robust knowledge / Roger Strand -- Third wave science studies : toward a history and philosophy of expertise / Christopher Hamlin -- Part II: The exigencies of research funding : epistemic values and economic benefit -- The community of science / James Robert Brown -- Science in the grip of the economy : on the epistemic impact of the commercialization of research / Martin Carrier -- Promoting disinterestedness or making use of bias : interests and moral obligation in commercialized research / Matthias Adam "In The Challenge of the Social and the Pressure of Practice, philosophers, sociologists, and historians of science offer a multidisciplinary view of the complex interrelationships of values in science and society in both contemporary and historic contexts. They analyze the impact of commercialization and politicization on epistemic aspirations, and, conversely, the ethical dilemmas raised by "practically relevant" science in today's society. For example, much scientific research over the past quarter century has been guided by the financing that supports it. What effect has this had on the quality of research produced and the advancement of real knowledge?" "The contributors reveal how social values affect objectivity, theory, and the direction of inquiry, and examine the by products of external value systems in topics such as "expertise" and "socially robust knowledge," among others. They view science's own internal value systems, the earlier disconnection of societal values from the scientific process, and the plausibility of "value free" science."--BOOK JACKET