The disorder of things : metaphysical foundations of the disunity of science

The great dream of philosophers and scientists for millennia has been to give us a complete account of the order of things. A powerful articulation of such a dream in this century has been found in the idea of a unity of science. With this manifesto, John Dupré systematically attacks the ideal of scientific unity by showing how its underlying assumptions are at odds with the central conclusions of science itself. In its stead, the author gives us a metaphysics much more in keeping with what science tells us about the world. Elegantly written and compellingly argued, this provocative book will be important reading for all philosophers and scholars of science.

the Great Dream Of Philosophers And Scientists For Millennia Has Been To Give Us A Complete Account Of The Order Of Things. A Powerful Articulation Of Such A Dream In This Century Has Been Found In The Idea Of A Unity Of Science. With This Manifesto, John Dupré Systematically Attacks The Ideal Of Scientific Unity By Showing How Its Underlying Assumptions Are At Odds With The Central Conclusions Of Science Itself. In Its Stead, The Author Gives Us A Metaphysics Much More In Keeping With What Science Tells Us About The World. Elegantly Written And Compellingly Argued, This Provocative Book Will Be Important Reading For All Philosophers And Scholars Of Science.

john Ziman - Nature

dupré's Book Is Original, Lucid And Confident, Without Being Eccentric, Polemical Or Arrogant. It Deserves Close Attention...dupré Insists That There Is No General Scientific Method, Process, Or Attitude...he Pins Down The Notion Of The Unity Of Science As A Form Of Scientism Appropriate Only To A Utopia Or To Totalitarianism. He Notes That 'paradoxically, With The Disunity Of Science Comes A Kind Of Unity Of Knowledge.' That Is Why, To My Mind, This Is Just The Kind Of Philosophical Teaching That Is Needed To Close The Gap Between The Two Cultures.

The order presupposed by scientific unity is expressed in the classical philosophical doctrines of essentialism, materialist reductionism, and determinism. Employing examples from biology, that most "disordered" of sciences, Dupre subjects each of these doctrines to detailed and devastating criticism. He also identifies the shortcomings of contemporary approaches to scientific disunity, such as constructivism and extreme empiricism. He argues that we should adopt a "moderate realism" consistent with pluralistic science. Dupre's proposal for a "promiscuous realism" acknowledges the existence of a fundamentally disordered world, in which different projects or perspectives may reveal distinct, somewhat isolated, but nevertheless perfectly real domains of partial order This argument makes connections with recent discussions of science and value, especially in the work of feminist scholars. In Dupre's view, we have a great deal of choice about which scientific projects to pursue, a choice that can be informed only by value judgments. Such choices determine not only what kinds of order we observe in nature but also what kinds of order we impose on the world we observe. Elegantly written and compellingly argued, this provocative book should be of crucial interest to all philosophers and scholars of science In Dupre's view we have a great deal of choice about which scientific projects to pursue, a choice that can be informed only by value judgements. Such devices determine not only what kinds of order we observe in nature, but also what kinds of order we impose on the world we observe.