Publisher's Synopsis
One of Jim Al-Khalili's Top 10 Science books
Rather than fun, I would say that this book, by a leading historian of science, is a vital read and should be an important part of all scientists' education. I would also recommend it to politicians and policy makers so they can understand the process of doing science a little better.
View Jim’s Top 10. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
