Science in a Democratic Society
"Kitcher's new book is an outstanding contribution to the more recent social and political turn of philosophy of science. It'sa stunning piece of workand the right kind of study we need." --Martin Carrier, professor of philosophy Bielefeld University, Germany"Starting from the principles of an epistemic division of labor and the fullest possible political engagement of citizens in a democracy, philosopher Philip Kitcher has rethought the meaning of public knowledge from the ground up. The result is a blueprint for a new relationship between science and citizens that takes us beyond the confrontation of arrogant experts and ignorant laypeople. At once practical and visionary, this lucid bookshould be read by anyone who cares about the future of science—and the future of democracy." --Lorraine Daston, director, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin"Not free inquiry, but the good of society democratically determined is the ideal by which science should be governed, argues Kitcher in this radical yet eminently reasonable book.Essential readingfor anyone interested in science, science policy, or the future of the human race." --Michael Strevens, professor of philosophy, New York University"In this book, Kitcher takes on some of the most urgent problems of our times, prodding us to give them the attention they require. In doing so, he offers usan invaluable gift." --Evelyn Fox Keller, Professor Emerita Program in Science, Technology, and Society, MIT"Kitcher's focus in this book is on a problem that is both practically urgent and intellectually challenging: how, given the current erosion of trust in scientific expertise, should a commitment to democracy shape the institutions of science and what role should scientific expertise play in democratic political decisions? Kitcher not only performs theinvaluableservice of framing the issues in aclear-headedway; he also points towardplausible answersto the questions he poses. By his own example, he shows how valuable the role of public intellectual can be." --Allen Buchanan, PhD, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Law, Duke University"In this deeply thoughtful book, Philip Kitcher brilliantly probes the tensions in values between expert science and lay democracy that pervade current conflicts over public knowledge and policy. With an eye to fraught issues such as Darwinism in the schools and global warming, he boldly questions the seemingly unquestionable, including the value of absolute scientific autonomy, the privatization of research, and the pursuit of both knowledge without social obligation and social purposes without knowledge.A masterful and timely work." --Dan Kevles, Stanley Woodward Professor of History at Yale University and the author of, among other works,The Physicists: The History of a Scientific Community in Modern America"In thisexcellentcomplement toScience, Truth and Democracy, Kitcher offers a convincing elaboration and defense of his proposal for 'well-ordered science.' His arguments are profound yet resolutely reasonable and accessible, with his signature combination of philosophical erudition and plain good sense. Kitcher's mastery of the epistemology of science is unquestioned, but the wisdom in this volume also comes in the form of searching deliberations about ethics and human values. Thisshould be required readingfor anyone thinking about the proper place of science in a good society." --Hasok Chang, Hans Rausing Professor of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge