The Golem: What Everyone Should Know About Science (Canto) - Hardcover

Collins, Harry; Pinch, Trevor

3.77

314 ratings by Goodreads

9780521356015: The Golem: What Everyone Should Know About Science (Canto)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521356016 ISBN 13: 9780521356015

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1993

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Through a series of intriguing case studies including the study of relativity, cold fusion, the "memory" in worms, and the sex life of lizards, this book debunks the view that scientific knowledge is a straightforward outcome of competent theorization, observation, and experimentation. The first edition generated much debate and controversy. This second edition contains a substantial new Afterword that responds to some of the criticisms made by scientists. A distinction is made between the responses of scientific fundamentalists who maintain the myth of scientific certainty and more serious-minded critics. In dialogue with these latter critics The Golem attempts to build an island of reasoned debate between the two cultures. It seeks to replace the "Science Wars" with mutual understanding.

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Book Description:

Through a series of intriguing case studies of famous and not-so-famous scientific episodes, ranging from relativity and cold fusion to memory in worms and the sex lives of lizards, the authors debunk the idea that science is the straightforward result of competent theorisation, observation and experimentation.

Review:

."..a fun book with a serious message....well calculated to stimulate debate....[Readers] will be encouraged to think again about the justifiable (and unjustifiable) requirements made of scientific expertise in a society where science and technology play so important a role." Ben Marsden, Isis

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