After The Science Wars

After the Science Wars The science wars have recently taken center stage as a popular debate not only across the academic disciplines but also in the popular media. The “war” is between scientists who believe that science and its methods are objective, and an increasing number of social scientists, historians, philosophers, and others gathered under the umbrella of Science Studies. The latter group have disputed that science is impartial and in some cases whether it comes close to the truth at all. After the Science Wars is an exciting new collection that seeks to move the debate from its stalemate to a more fruitful dialogue. The “war” was intensified by the Sokal affair— which at first appeared to raise the status of science in relation to its critics, and now that the dust has settled has also managed to damage it. The book contains a contribution from Sokal, explaining his motivation for writing “Transgressing the boundaries: toward a transformative hermeneutics of quantum gravity,” which was later revealed as a hoax, and his conclusions from the affair. Then follow original essays by leading philosophers and scientists from a broad spectrum of views, including feminist, postcolonial, and anthropological, and two pieces of science fiction. The essays all attempt to bridge the wide interdisciplinary gulfs in this discussion and move it forward. After the Science Wars is essential reading for all those interested in the debates surrounding the status of science and its relation to society and culture. Contributors: Philip S.Baringer, Alan D.Sokal, Adrian L.Melott, Gabriel Stolzenberg, Barry Shank, Shari Speer, Alan Thompson, Sarah Wayland, Ann E.Cudd, Keith M.Ashman, Ziauddin Sardar, Robert L.Park, David Norman Smith, Steve Fuller, James Gunn. Editors: Keith M.Ashman is Assistant Professor of Physics at Baker University. Philip S.Baringer is Professor of Physics at the University of Kansas. After the Science Wars Edited by Keith M.Ashman and Philip S.Baringer London and New York First published 2001 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” © 2001 Selection and editorial matter Keith M.Ashman and Philip S.Baringer; individual chapters, respective contributors. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data After the science wars/edited by Keith Ashman and Philip Baringer p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Science-Social aspects. 2. Science and state. I. Ashman, Keith M., 1963– II. Baringer, Philip S. (Philip Shively), 1956– Q175.55.A38 2000 501–dc21 00–058263 ISBN 0-203-97774-2 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-415-212-8-1 (hbk) ISBN 0-415-212-9-X (pbk) Contents List of contributors vi 1 Introduction: the “science wars” PHILIP