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Science in a Democratic Society

AUTHOR Kitcher, Philip
PUBLISHER Prometheus Books (08/23/2011)
PRODUCT TYPE Hardcover (Hardcover)

Description
In this successor to his pioneering Science, Truth, and Democracy, the author revisits the topic explored in his previous work-namely, the challenges of integrating science, the most successful knowledge-generating system of all time, with the problems of democracy. But in this new work, the author goes far beyond that earlier book in studying places at which the practice of science fails to answer social needs. He considers a variety of examples of pressing concern, ranging from climate change to religiously inspired constraints on biomedical research to the neglect of diseases that kill millions of children annually, analyzing the sources of trouble. He shows the fallacies of thinking that democracy always requires public debate of issues most people cannot comprehend, and argues that properly constituted expertise is essential to genuine democracy. No previous book has treated the place of science in democratic society so comprehensively and systematically, with attention to different aspects of science and to pressing problems of our times.
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Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9781616144074
ISBN-10: 1616144076
Binding: Hardback or Cased Book (Sewn)
Content Language: English
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Page Count: 272
Carton Quantity: 20
Product Dimensions: 6.35 x 0.88 x 9.24 inches
Weight: 1.13 pound(s)
Feature Codes: Bibliography, Index, Dust Cover, Price on Product, Table of Contents
Country of Origin: US
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Science | Philosophy & Social Aspects
Science | Sociology - Social Theory
Science | Political
Dewey Decimal: 303.483
Library of Congress Control Number: 2011014989
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
publisher marketing
In this successor to his pioneering Science, Truth, and Democracy, the author revisits the topic explored in his previous work-namely, the challenges of integrating science, the most successful knowledge-generating system of all time, with the problems of democracy. But in this new work, the author goes far beyond that earlier book in studying places at which the practice of science fails to answer social needs. He considers a variety of examples of pressing concern, ranging from climate change to religiously inspired constraints on biomedical research to the neglect of diseases that kill millions of children annually, analyzing the sources of trouble. He shows the fallacies of thinking that democracy always requires public debate of issues most people cannot comprehend, and argues that properly constituted expertise is essential to genuine democracy. No previous book has treated the place of science in democratic society so comprehensively and systematically, with attention to different aspects of science and to pressing problems of our times.
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Author: Kitcher, Philip
Philip Kitcher is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Minnesota, and Director of its Center for the Philosophy of Science. Kitcher is the author of a searching book on "Scientific" Creationism, "Abusing Science, " published by The MIT Press in 1982.
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List Price $28.00
Your Price  $27.72
Hardcover