Toward Philosophy of Science’s Social Engagement
Erkenntnis 79 (Suppl 5):901-916 (2013)
Abstract
In recent years, philosophy of science has witnessed a significant increase in attention directed toward the field’s social relevance. This is demonstrated by the formation of societies with related agendas, the organization of research symposia, and an uptick in work on topics of immediate public interest. The collection of papers that follows results from one such event: a 3-day colloquium on the subject of socially engaged philosophy of science held at the University of Cincinnati in October 2012. In this introduction, we first survey the recent history of philosophy of science’s social involvement and contrast this with the much greater social involvement of the sciences themselves. Next, we argue that the field of philosophy of science bears a special responsibility to contribute to public welfare. We then introduce as a term of art “SEPOS” and articulate what we take to be distinctive about social engagement, with reference to the articles in this collection as exemplars. Finally, we survey the current state of social engagement in philosophy of science and suggest some practical steps for individuals and institutions to support this trajectory.Author Profiles
Reprint years
2014
DOI
10.1007/s10670-013-9535-3
My notes
Similar books and articles
The Broad Challenge of Public Engagement in Science: Commentary on: “Constitutional Moments in Governing Science and Technology”.Rinie van Est - 2011 - Science and Engineering Ethics 17 (4):639-648.
The Broad Challenge of Public Engagement in Science.Rinie Est - 2011 - Science and Engineering Ethics 17 (4):639-648.
Engagement for progress: applied philosophy of science in context.Heather E. Douglas - 2010 - Synthese 177 (3):317-335.
Taking Our Own Medicine: On an Experiment in Science Communication.Maja Horst - 2011 - Science and Engineering Ethics 17 (4):801-815.
A Social Licence for Science: Capturing the Public or Co-Constructing Research?Sujatha Raman & Alison Mohr - 2014 - Social Epistemology 28 (3-4):258-276.
Comments on science and social responsibility: A role for philosophy of science?Helen E. Longino - 1997 - Philosophy of Science 64 (4):179.
Varieties of Social Explanation: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Social Science.Daniel Little - 1991 - Westview Press.
Socially relevant philosophy of science: An introduction.Kathryn S. Plaisance & Carla Fehr - 2010 - Synthese 177 (3):301-316.
Philosophy of Social Science: A Contemporary Introduction.Mark Risjord - 2014 - New York: Routledge.
Challenges to public engagement in science and technology in Japan: experiences in the HapMap Project.Eiko Suda, Darryl Macer & Ichiro Matsuda - 2009 - Genomics, Society and Policy 5 (1):114-133.
Experimenting with Engagement: Commentary on: Taking Our Own Medicine: On an Experiment in Science Communication.Bruce V. Lewenstein - 2011 - Science and Engineering Ethics 17 (4):817-821.
Editorial Overview: Public Science and Technology Scholars: Engaging Whom?Erik Fisher - 2011 - Science and Engineering Ethics 17 (4):607-620.
Analytics
Added to PP
2013-10-16
Downloads
425 (#26,097)
6 months
24 (#48,691)
2013-10-16
Downloads
425 (#26,097)
6 months
24 (#48,691)
Historical graph of downloads
Author Profiles
Citations of this work
The National Science Foundation and philosophy of science's withdrawal from social concerns.Krist Vaesen & Joel Katzav - 2019 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 78 (C):73-82.
Extra-academic transdisciplinarity and scientific pluralism: what might they learn from one another?Inkeri Koskinen & Uskali Mäki - 2016 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 6 (3):419-444.
Different motivations, similar proposals: objectivity in scientific community and democratic science policy.Jaana Eigi - 2017 - Synthese 194 (12):4657-4669.
References found in this work
Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues From Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming.Naomi Oreskes & Erik M. Conway - 2010 - Bloomsbury Press.
Unsimple Truths: Science, Complexity, and Policy.Sandra D. Mitchell - 2009 - University of Chicago Press.