Why Trust Science? (The University Center for Human Values Series Book 55) by Naomi Oreskes (PDF)

Description

Why the social character of scientific knowledge makes it trustworthyAre 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.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Professor Oreskes does an outstanding job of detailing the history of the scientific method over the last couple of centuries. She makes an excellent argument that even when scientists are wrong, it is usually due to a lack of a true consensus or biases on part of individual scientists who end up getting much more publicity than they should. Usually because their bias is shared with many in the general public. The examples given were spot on, and I learned a lot of history from them. Especially the section on eugenics.I only found one flaw, and this could just be me nit picking. Towards the beginning Professor Oreskes references acupuncture and TCM as examples of non-Western medicine found to be effective. Her citation for this involved research from Dr. Edzard Ernst, but his paper (which he confirmed with me when I messaged him) never said any such thing.I get her point, that over time non-scientists may find effective solutions and these shouldn’t be ignored. Perhaps a better example was variolation practiced in early China and Sudan.Taking arguments from her critics, even giving them a voice, was an excellent way to show she is open to hearing other points of view.

⭐This is a well written defense of science. It isn’t that hard to get through but expects the reader to pay attention. It also does a great job taking other viewpoints seriously and explaining why consensus is so important. Usually these types of books are written by philosophers (McIntyre’s “The Scientific Attitude” is the best of these books), but it’s nice to see a historian provide one.The only potential concern someone might have is that this book assumes the reader is careful and patient to an extent that pop science books don’t. For the layperson, for example, the first chapter on the history of the philosophy of science might require some extra work.

⭐This book is not a defense of science at all because of its emphasis on consensus. Consensus has no place in science. If 100% of scientists agree with an incorrect hypothesis, it is still incorrect. Newton’s theory of gravity was wrong. Einstein’s theories don’t work in black holes or at quantum scales.But to be fair, this book is not a complete waste of time. It will leave you wondering why someone who is supposed to be well-versed in science would write something that is so fundamentally wrong.Science is definitely to be trusted. Consensus (and this book) is to be taken with a grain of salt.

⭐There is really great stuff in this book. The issue is that it is largely an academic treatment apparently targeted to academics. I know people who express doubts about science – I couldn’t direct them to this reference. How about an abridged version written for lay people?

⭐This is an excellent book, especially if you are interested in the history and philosophy of science. More importantly, Professor Oreskes provides a nuanced discussion of the state of science in the United States, why there is distrust of science in our country, and why we should trust science.

⭐Great book, I bought it for my college class & it was much cheaper than buying from the bookstore & came in great condition.

⭐Very erudite, very informative. I’m enjoying it. The notes give wealth of sources to pursue further whenever a specific issue interests you. And the prose is crisp and clear. But one worry: will those science detractors who abuse public opinion ever lend an ear to the author?

⭐I hoped this book could help improve my critical, scientific, analytical thinking. Instead, I got something which my review title says. My bad.p.s. Below please find some favorite passages of mine fyi.Science is the practice of formulating meaningful statements, and using observations to judge whether a meaning statement is correct. Pg24vs.The most well-known critic of logical empiricism (the core of scientific method is verification through experience, observation and experiment) is Karl Popper. He denied that induction was the method of science. He argued that what distinguishes science from other forms of human activity is not its activities, but its attitude. Great scientists are notable for the critical attitude they take toward their work, which is an attitude of skepticism and disbelief. He insisted that the goal of science is not to prove theories – since that cannot be done – but to disprove them. He introduced his now famous notion of falsifiability, concluding that what distinguishes a scientific claim from a non-scientific one is not that there is some observation by which it can be verified, but that there is some observation by which it can be refuted… the key activity of science is not the gathering of observations, but the formulation of conjectures and the pursuit of specific observations that may refute them. Pg26-7

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