Science, Truth, and Democracy (Oxford Studies in the Philosophy of Science)

"Closely examining some of our most deeply held notions about the role of science, distinguished philosopher Philip Kitcher engages the heated debate about how scientific knowledge should be pursued and employed. There currently exists a sharp divide between the purists who believe that the pursuit of scientific knowledge is always valuable and necessary and those who believe that it invariably serves the interests of the powerful. Kitcher rejects both perspectives, painting a pragmatic portrait of the sciences that allows for the possibility of scientific truth but nonetheless permits social consensus to determine which avenues to investigate."--Jacket.