Is Science Value Free? : Values and Scientific Understanding

ISBN-13: 9780415208208 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 304 str.

Hugh Lacey

Opis

The idea that science is value free has been challenged over the years by a number of different sides, including: postmodernists, feminists, radical ecologists, Third World advocates and religious fundamentalists. In this book, Hugh Lacey appraises and explicates the view that science is value free. Lacey discusses how science and values interact, with a focus on a discussion of development, and science's place in development particularly in Third World countries. The book approaches this ongoing discussion in the following ways: by exploring the nature and meaning of values; discussing challenges to the view that science as value free is possible; and defining levels of scientific inquiry, bringing us closer to the possibility of an impartial ideal.

Recenzje

'Lacey's book must be considered a major contribution and should be of interest to all philosophers of science and others interested in the role of values in supposed rational thought.' - Stephen Mumford, Mind

'Lacey's arguments are readily accessible and do not require a specialist's knowledge - the book can easily serve as an introduction to the topical and controversial question of the role of values in scientific inquiry as well as challenging taken-for-granted positions of specialists.' - James Sauer, Research in Philosophy and Technology

'Adds richness to the terms of the debate and intriguing philosophical framework for the problems that arise ... This work will raise important questions for anyone who has wondered, not whether science currently is value-free, but what such an ideal would be and whether the idea is defensible.' - Heather Douglas, Philosophy of Science

Spis treści

1 Introduction: the idea that science is value free 2 Values 3 Cognitive values 4 Science as value free: provisional theses 5 Scientific understanding 6 The control of nature 7 Kuhn: scientific activity in different ‘worlds’ 8 A “grassroots empowerment” approach 9 A feminist approach 10 Science as value free: revised theses 11 Conclusion

O autorze

Hugh Lacey is Professor of Philosophy at Swarthmore College. He is also the co-author (with Barry Schwartz) of Behaviourism, Science and Human Nature.