The Flight from Science and Reason (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences)

"Evidence of a flight from reason is as old as human record-keeping: the fact of it certainly goes back an even longer way. Flight from science specifically, among the forms of rational inquiry, goes back as far as science itself... But rejection of reason is now a pattern to be found in most branches of scholarship and in all the learned professions."--from the introductionIn the widely acclaimed Higher Superstition: The Academic Left and Its Quarrels with Science, Paul R. Gross and Norman Levitt offered a spirited response to the "science bashers", raising serious questions about the growing criticism of scientific practice from humanists and social scientists on the academic left. Now, in The Flight from Science and Reason, Gross and Levitt are joined by Martin W. Lewis to bring together a diverse and distinguished group of scholars, scientists, and experts to engage these questions from a wide variety of perspectives.The authors take on critics of science whose views range from moderate to extreme, from social constructivists to deconstructionists, from creationists and feminists to Afro-centrists. They discuss the rise of "alternative medicine" and radical environmentalism (here skewered as "ecosentimentalism"). They explain why the "uncertainty principle" does not work as a metaphor for ambiguity, and why "chaos theory" cannot be invoked without an understanding of mathematics. Throughout, they grapple with the paradox inherent in arguing with opponents who contend that reason itself, and thus logic, is suspect. Distributed for the New York Academy of Sciences The Authors Take On Critics Of Science Whose Views Range From Moderate To Extreme, From Social Constructivists To Deconstructionists, From Creationists And Feminists To Afro-centrists. They Discuss The Rise Of Alternative Medicine And Radical Environmentalism (here Skewered As Ecosentimentalism). They Explain Why The Uncertainty Principle Does Not Work As A Metaphor For Ambiguity, And Why Chaos Theory Cannot Be Invoked Without An Understanding Of Mathematics. Throughout, They Grapple With The Paradox Inherent In Arguing With Opponents Who Contend That Reason Itself, And Thus Logic, Is Suspect.--book Jacket. Introductory Remarks : Medicine Took An Earlier Flight / Henry Greenberg -- Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads / Dudley R. Herschbach -- Conduct And Misconduct In Science / David Goodstein -- Mathematics As The Stepchild Of Contemporary Culture / Norman Levitt -- Concern For Truth : What It Means, Why It Matters / Susan Haack -- The Propensity To Believe / James E. Alcock -- Flights Of Fancy : Science, Reason, And Common Sense / Barry R. Gross -- Feelings And Beliefs / Loren Fishman -- In Praise Of Intolerance To Charlatanism In Academia / Mario Bunge -- Quantum Philosophy : The Flight From Reason In Science / Sheldon Goldstein -- Physics And Common Nonsense / Daniel Kleppner -- Science Of Chaos Or Chaos In Science? / J. Bricmont -- Sucking With Vampires : The Medicine Of Unreason / Gerald Weissmann -- Antiscience Trends In The Rise Of The Alternative Medicine Movement / Wallace Sampson -- Constructivism In Psychotherapy : Truth And Consequences / Barbara S. Held -- Radical Environmental Philosophy And The Assault On Reason / Martin W. Lewis -- Is Environmental Cancer A Political Disease? / Stanley Rothman And S. Robert Lichter -- Old Messages : Ecofeminism And The Alienation Of Young People From Environmental Activism / Rene Denfeld -- Towards A Sober Sociology Of Science / Susan Haack -- Wrestling With The Social Constructor / Noretta Koertge -- Voodoo Sociology : Recent Developments In The Sociology Of Science / Stephen Cole -- The Allure Of The Hybrid : Bruno Latour And The Search For A New Grand Theory / Oscar Kenshur -- Whatever Happened To Historical Evidence? / Mary Lefkowitz -- Building Bridges To Afrocentrism : A Letter To My Egyptological Colleagues / Ann Macy Roth -- State Of The Art/science In Anthropology / Robin Fox -- Liberalism, Public Opinion, And Their Critics : Some Lessons For Defending Science / Simon Jackman -- Pathological Social Science : Carol Gilligan And The Incredible Shrinking Girl / Christina Hoff Sommers -- Why Feminist Epistemology Isn't / Janet Radcliffe Richards -- Feminist Epistemology : Stalking An Un-dead Horse / Noretta Koertge -- The Science Question In Postcolonial Feminism / Meera Nanda -- Are Feminist Perspectives In Mathematics And Science Feminist? / Mary Beth Ruskai -- On Sitting Down To Read King Lear Once Again : The Textual Deconstruction Of Shakespeare / Paul A. Cantor -- Constructing Literature : Empiricism, Romanticism, And Textual Theory / George Bornstein -- Freudian Suspicion Versus Suspicion Of Freud / Frederick Crews -- Ecosentimentalism : The Summer Dream Beneath The Tamarind Tree / Gerald Weissmann -- Two Sources Of Unreason In Democratic Society : The Paranormal And Religion / Paul Kurtz -- Creationism, Ideology, And Science / Eugenie C. Scott -- The Flight From Reason : The Religious Right / Langdon Gilkey -- Doubt, Certainty, Faith, And Ideology / Oscar Kenshur -- Science, Reason, And Education / Henry Rosovsky -- Scientific Literacy / James Trefil -- Science Education And The Sense Of Self / Gerald Holton -- Afrocentric Pseudoscience : The Miseducation Of African Americans / Bernard R. Ortiz De Montellano. Edited By Paul R. Gross, Norman Levitt, And Martin W. Lewis. This Volume Represents The Proceedings Of A Conference Entitled: 'the Flight From Science And Reason,' Which Was Sponsored By The New York Academy Of Sciences And Held In New York, New York, On May 31-june 2, 1995--t.p. Verso. Originally Published: New York : New York Academy Of Sciences, 1996. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. "Evidence of a flight from reason is as old as human the fact of it certainly goes back an even longer way. Flight from science specifically, among the forms of rational inquiry, goes back as far as science itself... But rejection of reason is now a pattern to be found in most branches of scholarship and in all the learned professions."--from the introduction In the widely acclaimed Higher The Academic Left and Its Quarrels with Science, Paul R. Gross and Norman Levitt offered a spirited response to the "science bashers", raising serious questions about the growing criticism of scientific practice from humanists and social scientists on the academic left. Now, in The Flight from Science and Reason, Gross and Levitt are joined by Martin W. Lewis to bring together a diverse and distinguished group of scholars, scientists, and experts to engage these questions from a wide variety of perspectives. The authors take on critics of science whose views range from moderate to extreme, from social constructivists to deconstructionists, from creationists and feminists to Afro-centrists. They discuss the rise of "alternative medicine" and radical environmentalism (here skewered as "ecosentimentalism"). They explain why the "uncertainty principle" does not work as a metaphor for ambiguity, and why "chaos theory" cannot be invoked without an understanding of mathematics. Throughout, they grapple with the paradox inherent in arguing with opponents who contend that reason itself, and thus logic, is suspect. Distributed for the New York Academy of Sciences Examines criticisms of science ranging from social constructivism to deconstructivism, from creationist and feminist to Afro-centrist. The text explains why the "uncertainty principle" does not work as a metaphor for ambiguity and considers the paradox in the argument that reason itself is suspect. 1......Page 1 2......Page 68 3......Page 146 4......Page 248 5......Page 355 6......Page 467