Knowledge and the World: Challenges Beyond the Science Wars [Hardcover]

Martin Carrier (Editor), Johannes Roggenhofer (Editor), Günter Küppers (Editor), Philippe Blanchard (Editor), Gnnter Knppers (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 3540210091 | ISBN-13: 978-3540210092 | Publication Date: June 24, 2004 | Edition: 1

The fundamental question whether, or in which sense, science informs us about the real world has pervaded the history of thought since antiquity. Is what science tells us about the world determined unambiguously by facts or does the content of any scientific theory in some way depend on the human condition? "Sokal`s hoax" added a new dimension to this controversial debate, which very quickly came to been known as "Science Wars". "Knowledge and the World" examines and reviews the broad range of philosophical positions on this issue, stretching from realism to relativism, to expound the epistemic merits of science, and to address the central question: in which sense can science justifiably claim to provide a truthful portrait of reality? This book addresses everyone interested in the philosophy and history of science, and in particular in the interplay between the social and natural sciences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Aus den Rezensionen:

"… eine Buchreihe ... Begründet und redaktionell betreut von Physikerin Angela Lahee, hat sie das Ziel, den Lesern eine Erweiterung und Reflexion der eigenen Wissensgrenzen zu ermöglichen. … von dem Wissenschaftsphilosophen Martin Carrier … herausgegebenen Essay-Sammlung … Dabei wird der aktuelle Streit zwischen Physikern und Wissenschaftssoziologen aufgegriffen, … mit dem begrifflich ungleich schärferen Instrumentarium der Wissenschaftstheorie zugespitzt und verfeinert. … außerordentlich lesenwert. ‘was wir brauchen, ist nicht der Wille zu glauben, sondern der Wille herauszufinden‘ … Die interdisziplinäre, unkonventionelle Frontiers Collection … hat ihn sogar zu ihrem Leitspruch erhoben."

(Rüdiger Vaas, in: Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau, 2007, Vol. 60, Issue 4, S. 212 ff.)

From the Back Cover

The fundamental question of whether, or in what sense, science informs us about the real world has pervaded the history of thought since antiquity. Is what science tells us about the world determined unambiguously by facts, or does the content of any scientific theory in some way depend on the human condition? "Sokal’s hoax" attacked the mere seriousness of post-modern views of science and shifted this controversial debate to a new level, which very quickly came to be known as "Science Wars".

"Knowledge and the World" examines and reviews the broad range of philosophical positions on this issue, extending from realism to relativism, to expound the epistemic merit of  science, and to tackle the central question: in what sense can science justifiably claim to provide a truthful portrait of reality? Challenges beyond the Science Wars are taken up by contributions of scientists, sociologists and philosophers of science, which connect perspectives of a wide variety of disciplines (including biology and cultural studies). This book addresses everyone interested in the philosophy and history of science, and in particular in the interplay between the social and natural sciences.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 330 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (June 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540210091
• ISBN-13: 978-3540210092
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,707,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)