Public knowledge : an essay concerning the social dimension of science / by J. M. Ziman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ziman, J. M. (John M.), 1925-2005, author.

Contributor:

Cambridge University Press, publisher.

Mark B. Adams Emergence of Modern Science Collection (University of Pennsylvania)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--Philosophy.

Science.

Science--Social aspects.

Penn Provenance:

Adams, Mark B. (former owner) (autograph) (Adams copy)

Physical Description:

xii, 153 pages, 1 unnumbered page ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Cambridge at the University Press, 1968.

Summary:

"In this 1968 book a practising scientist and gifted expositor sets forth an exciting point of view on the nature of science and how it works. Professor Ziman argues that the true goal of all scientific research is to contribute to the consensus of universally accepted knowledge. He explores the philosophical, psychological and sociological consequences of the principle, and explains how, in practice, the consensus is established and how the work of the individual scientist becomes a part of it. The intellectual form of scientific knowledge is determined by the need for the scientist to communicate his findings and to make them acceptable to others. Professor Ziman's essay, being written in plain English, and requiring only the slenderest knowledge of science, can (and should) be read by any educated person; as he says 'all genuine scientific procedures of thought and argument are essentially the same as those of everyday life'"--Publisher's description.

Contents:

What is science?

Science and non-science

Scientific method and scientific argument

Education for science

The individual scientist

Community and communications

Institutions and authorities

Summing up.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Kislak Center copy gifted by Dr. Mark B. Adams in 2018.

ISBN:

0521095190

OCLC:

436211