The One Culture?: A Conversation about Science 1st PB Edition
Author(s): Jay A. Labinger (Editor), Harry Collins
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication Date: 1 Jun. 2001
Edition: 1st PB Edition
Language: English
Print length: 342 pages
ISBN-10: 0226467236
ISBN-13: 9780226467238
Book Description
So far the “Science Wars” have generated far more heat than light. Combatants from one or the other of what C. P. Snow famously called “the two cultures” (science versus the arts and humanities) have launched bitter attacks but have seldom engaged in constructive dialogue about the central issues. In The One Culture?, Jay A. Labinger and Harry Collins have gathered together some of the world’s foremost scientists and sociologists of science to exchange opinions and ideas rather than insults. The contributors find surprising areas of broad agreement in a genuine conversation about science, its legitimacy and authority as a means of understanding the world, and whether science studies undermines the practice and findings of science and scientists.
The One Culture? is organized into three parts. The first consists of position papers written by scientists and sociologists of science, which were distributed to all the participants. The second presents commentaries on these papers, drawing out and discussing their central themes and arguments. In the third section, participants respond to these critiques, offering defenses, clarifications, and modifications of their positions.
Who can legitimately speak about science? What is the proper role of scientific knowledge? How should scientists interact with the rest of society in decision making? Because science occupies such a central position in the world today, such questions are vitally important. Although there are no simple solutions, The One Culture? does show the reader exactly what is at stake in the Science Wars, and provides a valuable framework for how to go about seeking the answers we so urgently need.
Contributors include: Constance K. Barsky, Jean Bricmont, Harry Collins, Peter Dear, Jane Gregory, Jay A. Labinger, Michael Lynch, N. David Mermin, Steve Miller, Trevor Pinch, Peter R. Saulson, Steven Shapin, Alan Sokal, Steven Weinberg, Kenneth G. Wilson
Editorial Reviews
Amazon Review
Does science have anything to fear from its critics? The reader of the surprisingly clear and straightforward collection The One Culture?: A Conversation about Science 1st PB Edition probably won’t think so after absorbing its range of opinions. Not to say that such criticism is toothless, overly narrow, or meaningless outside the academic context–far from it. The editors gathered 15 scientists and sociologists well known for their passionate but civil engagement in the science wars of the 1990s and asked them for position papers, responses, and rebuttals, and the result is a valuable contribution to the field of science studies.
The problem of the nature of science, of course, isn’t as simple as the pundits would imagine; it’s neither a barbarians-at-the-gates assault on a precious institution nor a noble speaking of truth to power. The writers tend to agree with each other far more often than not, and their differences are calmly but firmly dissected in turn. From Allen Sokal, the smart-aleck scientist who hoaxed the cultural studies journal Social Theory, to highly regarded historian of science Peter Dear, the breadth of interest and analysis is staggering. Inevitably, though, the potential reader will worry that such a book will be rendered unreadable by two sets of mutually exclusive jargon. It isn’t. Though the ideas and debate will stretch the brains of practically every reader, The One Culture? should provoke no more dictionary trips than any other well-written set of essays. The topic at hand, of vital importance to us all, deserves more light and less heat, and fortunately editors Jay Labinger and HM Collins have delivered. –Rob Lightner
From the Inside Flap
In recent years, combatants from one or the other of what C. P. Snow famously called “the two cultures” (science versus the arts and humanities) have launched bitter attacks but have seldom engaged in constructive dialogue. InThe One Culture? Jay A. Labinger and Harry Collins have gathered together some of the world’s foremost scientists and sociologists of science to exchange opinions and ideas rather than insults. The contributors find surprising areas of broad agreement in a genuine conversation about science, its legitimacy and authority as a means of understanding the world, and whether science studies undermines the practice and findings of science and scientists.
Who has the right to speak about science? What is the proper role of scientific knowledge? How should scientists interact with the rest of society in decision making? Because science occupies a central position in the world today, such questions are vitally important. Although there are no simple solutions,
The One Culture? shows the reader exactly what is at stake in the so-called Science Wars and provides a valuable framework for how to go about seeking the answers we so urgently need.
Contributors include: Constance K. Barsky, Jean Bricmont, Harry Collins, Peter Dear, Jane Gregory, Jay A. Labinger, Michael Lynch, N. David Mermin, Steve Miller, Trevor Pinch, Peter R. Saulson, Steven Shapin, Alan Sokal, Steven Weinberg, Kenneth G. Wilson|In recent years, combatants from one or the other of what C. P. Snow famously called “the two cultures” (science versus the arts and humanities) have launched bitter attacks but have seldom engaged in constructive dialogue. In
The One Culture? Jay A. Labinger and Harry Collins have gathered together some of the world’s foremost scientists and sociologists of science to exchange opinions and ideas rather than insults. The contributors find surprising areas of broad agreement in a genuine conversation about science, its legitimacy and authority as a means of understanding the world, and whether science studies undermines the practice and findings of science and scientists.
Who has the right to speak about science? What is the proper role of scientific knowledge? How should scientists interact with the rest of society in decision making? Because science occupies a central position in the world today, such questions are vitally important. Although there are no simple solutions,
The One Culture? shows the reader exactly what is at stake in the so-called Science Wars and provides a valuable framework for how to go about seeking the answers we so urgently need.
Contributors include: Constance K. Barsky, Jean Bricmont, Harry Collins, Peter Dear, Jane Gregory, Jay A. Labinger, Michael Lynch, N. David Mermin, Steve Miller, Trevor Pinch, Peter R. Saulson, Steven Shapin, Alan Sokal, Steven Weinberg, Kenneth G. Wilson
From the Back Cover
In recent years, combatants from one or the other of what C. P. Snow famously called “the two cultures” (science versus the arts and humanities) have launched bitter attacks but have seldom engaged in constructive dialogue. In The One Culture? Jay A. Labinger and Harry Collins have gathered together some of the world’s foremost scientists and sociologists of science to exchange opinions and ideas rather than insults. The contributors find surprising areas of broad agreement in a genuine conversation about science, its legitimacy and authority as a means of understanding the world, and whether science studies undermines the practice and findings of science and scientists.
Who has the right to speak about science? What is the proper role of scientific knowledge? How should scientists interact with the rest of society in decision making? Because science occupies a central position in the world today, such questions are vitally important. Although there are no simple solutions, The One Culture? shows the reader exactly what is at stake in the so-called Science Wars and provides a valuable framework for how to go about seeking the answers we so urgently need.
Contributors include: Constance K. Barsky, Jean Bricmont, Harry Collins, Peter Dear, Jane Gregory, Jay A. Labinger, Michael Lynch, N. David Mermin, Steve Miller, Trevor Pinch, Peter R. Saulson, Steven Shapin, Alan Sokal, Steven Weinberg, Kenneth G. Wilson
About the Author
Jay A. Labinger is a research chemist and administrator of the Beckman Institute at the California Institute of Technology.
Harry Collins is a Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology and director of the Centre for the Study of Knowledge, Expertise, and Science at Cardiff University.
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