Closely examining some of our notions about the role of science, the author engages the heated debate about how scientific knowledge should be pursued and employed. He paints a portrait of the sciences that allows for the possibility of scientific truth but nonetheless permits social consensus to determine which avenues need to be investigated.

In Science, Truth, and Democracy, this philosopher of science at Columbia University revises and builds on his earlier account to debunk what he refers to as the theology of science-the idea that science is a high calling dedicated to ends that transcend all others-and to oppose the demonization of science...thought-provoking.

"In Science, Truth, and Democracy, this philosopher of science at Columbia University revises and builds on his earlier account to debunk what he refers to as the theology of science-the idea that science is a high calling dedicated to ends that transcend all others-and to oppose the demonization of science...thought-provoking." -- Lewis Wolpert, Science "Science, Truth, and Democracy is an outstandingly good book; it flashes with the steel of reason."--New York Times Book Review "Kitcher navigates very skillfully between the extremes of positivistic science-worship and Foucauldian distrust of 'regimes of truth'. His novel and plausible answer to the question 'Why seek scientific truth?' will help bring the increasingly tedious Science Wars to a close. His argument that we need what he calls 'well-ordered science' is an important contribution to political thought."--Richard Rorty, Stanford University "Mr Kitcher holds that the democratic way of doing this is better than any alternative.... But could it, he asks, serve us better? Does it ignore opportunities for the advancement of knowledge and the betterment of humankind? Yes, he suggests, on both counts. Thanks to [Kitcher, et. al], such questions are being asked again in a serious and responsible way. Science can only be richer and healthier for it."--The Economist "Kitcher is one of the leading figures in contemporary philosophy of science, and [this book] expounds some significant developments in his general view of the sciences, as well as original treatments of some fundamentally important and increasingly topical issues...it will certainly be widely read and discussed by philosophers of science and a good number of scientists and other students of scientists."--John Dupré, University of Exeter "Philip Kitcher's Science, Truth and Democracy joins generosity to argument. Throughout, Kitcher remains engaged with reason as he tries to understand, critically, the positions of realists, creationists, empiricists, and constructivists. It is a lucid book that should appeal to a wide public interested in current debates about science--from its philosophical status to its policy implications in the age of genomics."--Peter Galison, Mallinckrodt Professor of the History of Science and of Physics, Harvard University "In Science, Truth, and Democracy, this philosopher of science at Columbia University revises and builds on his earlier account to debunk what he refers to as the theology of science-the idea that science is a high calling dedicated to ends that transcend all others-and to oppose the demonization of science...thought-provoking." -- Lewis Wolpert, Science "Science, Truth, and Democracy is an outstandingly good book; it flashes with the steel of reason."--New York Times Book Review "Kitcher navigates very skillfully between the extremes of positivistic science-worship and Foucauldian distrust of 'regimes of truth'. His novel and plausible answer to the question 'Why seek scientific truth?' will help bring the increasingly tedious Science Wars to a close. His argument that we need what he calls 'well-ordered science' is an important contribution to political thought."--Richard Rorty, Stanford University "Mr Kitcher holds that the democratic way of doing this is better than any alternative.... But could it, he asks, serve us better? Does it ignore opportunities for the advancement of knowledge and the betterment of humankind? Yes, he suggests, on both counts. Thanks to [Kitcher, et. al], such questions are being asked again in a serious and responsible way. Science can only be richer and healthier for it."--The Economist "Kitcher is one of the leading figures in contemporary philosophy of science, and [this book] expounds some significant developments in his general view of the sciences, as well as original treatments of some fundamentally important and increasingly topical issues...it will certainly be widely read and discussed by philosophers of science and a good number of scientists and other students of scientists."--John Dupré, University of Exeter "Philip Kitcher's Science, Truth and Democracy joins generosity to argument. Throughout, Kitcher remains engaged with reason as he tries to understand, critically, the positions of realists, creationists, empiricists, and constructivists. It is a lucid book that should appeal to a wide public interested in current debates about science--from its philosophical status to its policy implications in the age of genomics."--Peter Galison, Mallinckrodt Professor of the History of Science and of Physics, Harvard University "Science, Truth and Democracy mobilizes the notion of significance so central to his masterful analysis of how science advances, to solve the problems of what role scientific inquiry can play in the democracy which modern science itself requires to prosper. The Advancement of Science is obligatory reading for those who hope to understand how science works. Science, Truth and Democracy will be equally indispensable for those concerned about what interests it should serve."--Alexander Rosenberg, Duke University

"Will certainly be widely read and discussed by philosophers of science and a good number of scientists."--John Duprd'e, University of Exeter First book of its kind to address seriously the fundamental problems in the philosophy of science

Philip Kitcher is Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University and author of The Nature of Mathematical Knowledge (OUP, 1983); The Advancement of Science (OUP, 1993); and In Mendel's Mirror (OUP, 2003).

"Will certainly be widely read and discussed by philosophers of science and a good number of scientists."--John Duprd'e, University of Exeter First book of its kind to address seriously the fundamental problems in the philosophy of science