The Customization of Science : The Impact of Religious and Political Worldviews on Contemporary Science

Scholars with quite different backgrounds and areas of expertise were invited to explore how scientists and the public understand the relevance of their worldview or religion to the conduct of scientific inquiry in contemporary society. At the workshop, these scholars presented a first draft of their paper, a discussion followed, and they were then given the task of rewriting their piece in light of the criticism and the content of the others' contributions. This process made it possible to bring the papers together into a coherent whole. The editors of this volume felt that by also bringing in a discussion of bioconservatism and science, the scope and quality of the discussion could be further enhanced. Therefore, at a later stage, Adam Briggle was invited to contribute to this volume. "This book explores whether and how religious and secular worldviews and political ideologies held by scientists, citizens, decision-makers and politicians influence science as practiced and understood today. In this book, customized science is defined as a science built according to - or altered and fitted to - a particular group's specifications, that is, its needs, interests or values, its political ideology or worldview. It is science governed not merely by goals such as increased knowledge and explanatory power, but also by goals such as economic growth, sustainable development, the equality of women or the end of religion. The contributions to this book discuss, with regard to particular worldviews and themes connected to the public role of science, whether science is increasingly becoming customized to fit the needs and interests of various groups in society, but also what the consequences of such a development may be both for science and society"-- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-xii The Customization of Science: An Introduction to the Debate....Pages 1-18 Front Matter....Pages 19-19 Islam and Science....Pages 21-36 Feminism and Science....Pages 37-54 Christianity and Science....Pages 55-72 Atheism and Science....Pages 73-88 Front Matter....Pages 89-89 Implicit and Explicit Customized Science: The Case of Evolutionary Biology....Pages 91-103 On Religious and Antireligious Customization of Contemporary Physics....Pages 104-120 Theology and the Origins of Customized Science....Pages 121-135 Front Matter....Pages 137-137 Customised Science as a Reflection of Protscience....Pages 139-157 Science as Customized and Customizing: The Roles of Science in the “Religion/Worldviews in the Public Sphere” Debate....Pages 158-175 Bioconservatism as Customized Science....Pages 176-190 Front Matter....Pages 191-191 The Future of the Customized Science Debate....Pages 193-200 Back Matter....Pages 201-209 This collection explores whether and how religious and secular worldviews and political ideologies held by scientists, citizens, decision-makers and politicians influence science as practiced and understood today. Contributors explore the social and scientific repercussions of 'customizing' science to fit the needs and interests of various groups.