Science Without Limits - Hardcover

Perlman, James S.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0879759623 ISBN 13: 9780879759629

Publisher: Prometheus, 1995

Synopsis

What role does the "human factor" play in the scientific process? How does it influence discovery? This volume examines the role of the scientist in the process of understanding the world.

Perlman emphasizes the interactive human character of scientific inquiry, a dynamic interplay between human beings and their surroundings embodying attempts to understand, anticipate, and cope with nature. Scientists, ancient or modern, are seen as a conscious part of nature, interacting both physically and mentally with the world, forming an open system with what is observed, measured and explained. Perlman takes a historical approach, addressing the early search for natural order, recognition of rhythms in nature, the use of guiding faiths or assumptions, building conceptual models and projecting them upon nature, feedback, perpetual modification and reorganization of ideas, and the eventual recognition of interlocking scientific worlds. He also addresses scientific survival techniques, learning from experience, natural causes in the scientific process, conceptual images and science and society.

About this title

About the Author:

James S. Perlman is emeritus professor of Interdisciplinary Physical Science at San Francisco State University.

Review:

What role does the human factor play in the scientific process? How does it influence discovery? In Science Without Limits: Toward a Theory of Interaction Between Nature and Knowledge, scientist and teacher James Perlman shows us that science is not a dry, mechanistic process but a dynamic interplay between human beings and their surroundings, embodying attempts to understand, anticipate, and cope with natural events. The interactive nature of science requires the use of our minds, imaginations, and sense-extending apparatus, such as telescopes and microscopes. We are reminded that scientists do not merely observe; they form ideas and images which they then project upon nature to explain what they see. And these ideas and images are themselves influenced by the limitations of the observer as well as by prevailing social, intellectual, and technological conditions. -- Midwest Book Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Prometheus
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0879759623
• ISBN 13: 9780879759629
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 358