The Many Faces Of Science: Scientists, Values, And Society

The development of modern science and its increasing impact on our life and culture is one of the great stories of our time. Coming to understand that story and coming to terms with the institution of modern science should be an important part of the education of every student.In The Many Faces of Science, Leslie Stevenson and Henry Byerly masterfully and painlessly provide the basic information and the philosophical reflection students need to gain such understanding. Making good use of case study methods, the authors introduce us to dozens of figures from the history of science, highlighting both heroes and villains. Providing an elementary sketch of the development of science through the lives of its practitioners, Stevenson and Byerly bring the story alive through the examination of the often mixed motives of scientists, as well as the conflicting values people bring to science and to their perceptions of its impact on society. They also explore the relationship between scientific practice and political and economic power.Brief, accessible, and rich in anecdotes, personal asides, and keen insight, The Many Faces of Science is the ideal interdisciplinary introduction for nonscientists in courses on science studies, science and society, and science and human values. It will also prove useful as supplementary reading in courses on science in philosophy, sociology, and political science.