Is science our most precious possession or has our culture elevated science into a false idol? Is technology a useful servant or a malign genie? These questions are at the center of the "science wars" currently being waged over the role and future of science and technology in our society.
This anthology presents the best debates on this important issue. Divided into two major sections, the first part deals with challenges to scientific knowledge, in particular its claims to objectivity and impartiality. Some conservative thinkers charge that many scientists follow a dogmatic naturalistic...

In this accessible, concise yet comprehensive introduction to a sometimes-formidable subject, Parsons presents elementary topics in logic for people who have little background in mathematics or science and have no career goals in those fields.

A unique approach to the philosophy of science that focuses on the liveliest and most important controversies surrounding science
Is science more rational or objective than any other intellectual endeavor? Are scientific theories accurate depictions of reality or just useful devices for manipulating the environment? These core questions are the focus of this unique approach to the philosophy of science. Unlike standard textbooks, this book does not attempt a comprehensive review of the entire field, but makes a selection of the most vibrant debates and issues.
The author tackles such...

A historical review of the most important scientific controversies that have shaped our knowledge of dinosaurs since the discovery of important fossils in the 1820s. * Introductory chapter on the role of controversy in science focusing on the contributions of scientists such as Edward Cope and T.