Scientists, Democracy and Society

A Community of Inquirers
Softcover Nachdruck of the original 1. Auflage 2018
ISBN: 978-3-030-09109-5
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, Band 16, 199 Seiten, Previously published in hardcover, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 353 g

Reihe: Logic, Argumentation & Reasoning

This monograph examines the relationship between science and democracy. The author argues that there is no clear-cut division between science and the rest of society. Rather, scientists and laypeople form a single community of inquiry, which aims at the truth.

To defend his theory, the author shows that science and society are both heterogeneous and fragmented. They display variable and shifting alliances between components. He also explains how information flow between science and society is bi-directional through “transactional” processes. In other words, science and society mutually define themselves. The author also explains how science is both objective and laden with values.

Coverage includes a wide range of topics, such as: the ideal of value-free science, the is/ought divide, “thick terms” and the language of science, inductive risk, the dichotomy between pure science and applied science, constructivism and the philosophy of risk. It also looks at the concepts oftruth and objectivity, the autonomy of science, moral and social inquiry, perfectionism and democracy, and the role of experts in democratic societies.

The style is philosophical, but the book features many examples and case-studies. It will appeal to philosophers of science, those in science and technology studies as well as interested general readers.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Barrotta, Pierluigi

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaften Medienwissenschaften
• Sozialwissenschaften Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaften Kommunikationswissenschaften
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft | Kulturwissenschaften Kulturwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Wissenschaftstheorie, Wissenschaftsphilosophie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Mediensoziologie
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Wissenschaften: Theorie, Epistemologie, Methodik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1. Hume’s "law" and the ideal of value-free science.- Chapter 2. Concepts, values and scientific measurements.- Chapter 3. Values and inductive risk.- Chapter 4. Scientific research and the truth.- Chapter 5. Values and autonomy of science.- Chapter 6. Science, democracy and pragmatism.

Über Autor(innen)

Pierluigi Barrotta (b. 1958) is full Professor of Philosophy of Science and Director of the Department of Civilizations and Forms of Knowledge at the University of Pisa. He has published in history and philosophy of science, the epistemology of economics and the social sciences, the epistemology of environmental sciences, and the dialectical rationality in science. He is currently carrying out research on the relationships between science and democracy.