Science and Culture [Paperback]

This work addresses scientism and relativism, two false philosophies that divorce science from culture in general and from tradition in particular. It helps break the isolation of science from the rest of culture by promoting popular science and reasonable history of science. It provides examples of the value of science to culture, discussions of items of the general culture, practical strategies and tools, and case studies. It is for practising professionals, political scientists and science policy students and administrators.

In Science and Culture, Joseph Agassi addresses scientism and relativism, two false philosophies that divorce science from culture in general and from tradition in particular. According to Agassi, science is an integral part of culture, and both scientism and relativism ignore the cultural value of science. This work helps break the isolation of science from the rest of culture by promoting popular science and reasonable history of science. Agassi provides examples of the value of science to culture at large, discussions of items of the general culture and their interactions with science, and practical strategies and tools. He offers a wide variety of case studies to exemplify these. In this book Agassi puts significant topics such as autonomy, tolerance, reason, philosophy and responsibility on the agenda of democratic philosophy today.1. Autonomy.- 1.1 Science fiction: this message is for you. Maybe.- 1.2 The consolations of science.- 1.3 The moral base of science, or, The architectonic of open-ended reason.- 1.4 The theory and practice of critical rationalism.- 1.5 Science as training for autonomy.- 1.6 Science and the call of the wild.- 1.7 Science and controversy.- 2. Tolerance.- 2.1 Faith in the open society: the end of hermeneutics.- 2.2 The functions of intellectual rubbish.- 2.3 Science and the interpersonal.- 2.4 Science and pluralism.- 2.5 Wild goose chase.- 2.6 Science and its public l£t