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Why Trust Science?
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Naomi Oreskes
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2021
About this book
Why the social character of scientific knowledge makes it trustworthy
Are doctors right when they tell us vaccines are safe? Should we take climate experts at their word when they warn us about the perils of global warming? Why should we trust science when so many of our political leaders don't? Naomi Oreskes offers a bold and compelling defense of science, revealing why the social character of scientific knowledge is its greatest strength—and the greatest reason we can trust it. Tracing the history and philosophy of science from the late nineteenth century to today, this timely and provocative book features a new preface by Oreskes and critical responses by climate experts Ottmar Edenhofer and Martin Kowarsch, political scientist Jon Krosnick, philosopher of science Marc Lange, and science historian Susan Lindee, as well as a foreword by political theorist Stephen Macedo.
Author / Editor information
Naomi Oreskes is the Henry Charles Lea Professor of the History of Science and affiliated professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University.
Reviews
"This book should be mandatory reading for anyone who is part of the scientific endeavor."—Elisabeth Gilmore, Science
"Naomi Oreskes's Why Trust Science? should be read by progressives, conservatives, and everyone in between. It's an important, timely, and utterly compelling book."—Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
"Fascinating. . . . In a field with few reasons to be cheerful, it is both enlightening and encouraging."—Michael Brooks, New Scientist
"A compelling argument in favour of experts."—Hettie O’Brien, New Statesman
"Eloquent, insightful and bold. . . . This thought-provoking, timely and comprehensive book is a must-read."—Joanna Florence Sparks, Chemistry World
"Naomi Oreskes's Why Trust Science? should be read by progressives, conservatives, and everyone in between. It's an important, timely, and utterly compelling book."—Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
"Fascinating. . . . In a field with few reasons to be cheerful, it is both enlightening and encouraging."—Michael Brooks, New Scientist
"A compelling argument in favour of experts."—Hettie O’Brien, New Statesman
"Eloquent, insightful and bold. . . . This thought-provoking, timely and comprehensive book is a must-read."—Joanna Florence Sparks, Chemistry World
Topics
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Frontmatter
i -
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CONTENTS
vii -
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Preface to the Paperback
ix -
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Acknowledgments
xix -
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Introduction
1 -
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Chapter 1 Why Trust Science?
15 -
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Chapter 2 Science Awry
69 -
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Coda
147 - Comments
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Chapter 3 The Epistemology of Frozen Peas
163 -
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Chapter 4 What Would Reasons for Trusting Science Be?
181 -
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Chapter 5 Pascal’s Wager Reframed
191 -
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Chapter 6 Comments on the Present and Future of Science, Inspired by Naomi Oreskes
202 - Response
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Chapter 7 Reply
215 -
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Afterword
245 -
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Notes
257 -
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References
297 -
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Contributors
335 -
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Index
337
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
April 30, 2021
eBook ISBN:
9780691222370
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9780691222370
Keywords for this book
Scientist; Science; Climate change; Eugenics; Technology; Scientific method; Scientific theory; Philosophy of science; Social science; Global warming; Naomi Oreskes; Philosopher; Merchants of Doubt; Distrust; Public policy; Thomas Kuhn; Theory; Thought; Skepticism; Political science; Politics; Ottmar Edenhofer; Scientific community; Suggestion; Scientific consensus; Psychology; Funding; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Misuse of statistics; Publication; Physicist; Empirical evidence; Criticism; Morality; Pascal's Wager; Methodology; Result; Physician; Helen Longino; Ideology; Bruno Latour; Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; Philosophy; Scientific evidence; Explanation; Public health; Statistical significance; Dental floss; Political psychology; Peer review; Vaccination; Sunburn; Sunscreen; Scientific opinion on climate change; Karl Popper; Continental drift; Epistemology; Replication crisis; Adverse effect; Princeton University; History and philosophy of science; Experiment; Governance; Greenhouse gas; Paradigm shift; Empiricism; Science studies; Authoritarianism; Lecture; Adviser
Audience(s) for this book
For a non-specialist adult audience
