Why trust science? Why should science have more authority than "other ways of knowing?" Is science merely a social construct? Or even worse: a tool of oppression? This book boldly takes on these and other explosive questions―lodged by ideologues on the left and the right―and offers readers a well researched defense of science and a polemic addressed to its detractors.

Why It’s OK to Trust Science critically examines the recent history of critiques of science, including those in academia from scholars like Bruno Latour, Simon Schaffer, and Thomas Kuhn. It then presents case studies drawn from recent advances in the field of dinosaur paleontology, showing how science generates objective knowledge, even during revolutionary episodes. The book next looks at how that same objective knowledge can be gained even when researching extremely complex issues, using climate science to distinguish between genuine skepticism –upon which science depends–from dogmatic denial.

The book is for anyone who needs thoughtful, razor sharp responses to the detractors of science―whether they be anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, profit-seeking businessmen, or published relativists in the knowledge-making industries.

Key Features:

Highly readable and accessible without oversimplifying the complexities of scientific research
Exposes the many flaws of the "undertermination thesis"―the argument that indefinitely many hypotheses are compatible with any body of evidence
Explores whether moral and other value-laden questions can be answered by science
Includes three appendixes online: (1) Summary of The Structure of Scientific Revolutions; (2) Rorty on Losing the World; (3) 21 Facts in Support of Human-Caused Climate Change

About the Author

Keith M. Parsons is Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Emeritus at The University of Houston-Clear Lake. His books include God and the Burden of Proof (1989), Drawing Out Leviathan: Dinosaurs and the Science Wars (2001), and Bombing the Marshall Islands: A Cold War Tragedy (2017; coauthored with Robert A. Zaballa).

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Edward Bowditch Ltd
Exstowe, Exton, Exeter, EX3 0PP, United Kingdom

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

Legal entity name: Edward Bowditch Ltd
Legal entity form: Limited company
Business correspondence address: Exstowe, Exton, Exeter, EX3 0PP
Company registration number: 04916632
VAT registration: GB834241546
Authorised representative: Mr. E. Bowditch

Shipping Terms

Orders usually dispatched within two working days. Please note that at this time all domestic United Kingdom orders are sent by trackable UPS courier, we choose not to offer a lower cost alternative.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Order quantity	7 to 18 business days	2 to 5 business days
First item	US$ 33.59	US$ 33.59

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.