1st Edition
Science, Philosophy and Sustainability The End of the Cartesian dream
For science to remain a legitimate and trustworthy source of knowledge, society will have to engage in the collective processes of knowledge co-production, which not only includes science, but also other types of knowledge. This process of change has to include a new commitment to knowledge creation and transmission and its role in a plural society.
This book proposes to consider new ways in which science can be used to sustain our planet and enrich our lives. It helps to release and reactivate social responsibility within contemporary science and technology. It reviews critically relevant cases of contemporary scientific practice within the Cartesian paradigm, relabelled as 'innovation research', promoted as essential for the progress and well-being of humanity, and characterised by high capital investment, centralised control of funding and quality, exclusive expertise, and a reductionism that is philosophical as well as methodological.
This is an accessible and relevant book for scholars in Science and Technology Studies, History and Philosophy of Science, and Science, Engineering and Technology Ethics. Providing an array of concrete examples, it supports scientists, engineers and technical experts, as well as policy-makers and other non-technical professionals working with science and technology to re-direct their approach to global problems, in a more integrative, self-reflective and humble direction.
Foreword by Mario Giampietro, series Editor Preface: Descartes and the rediscovery of ignorance Jerome Ravetz Introduction: Cartesian Dreams Part 1: Original Matters 1. Plenty of Room at the Top 2. The Tower of Babel, Pentecostal Science, and the Language of Epidemics 3. Love Life or Fear Death? Cartesian Dreams and Awakenings Part 2: Techno-Science and Innovation 4. The Ontological Objection to Life TechnoSciences 5. The dream of the Internet of Things: Do we really want, can and need to be smart? 6. From Biobanks to Genetic Digital Networks: Why official pre-identified values may not work 7. Geoengineering dreams Part 3: Quality in A World Of Connected Bytes 8. Animals and beggars: imaginative numbers in the real world 9. Evidence-based Policy at the End of the Cartesian Dream: the case of mathematical modelling
Biography
Ângela Guimarães Pereira is a scientific officer of the Joint Research Centre – European Commission, Ispra, Italy.
Silvio Funtowicz is Professor at the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities of the University of Bergen, Norway.
"This inspired collection serves to awaken us from the illusory dependence on the Cartesian dream that arrogantly assumes that nature and society can be controlled. It calls for a renewed sense of responsibility in science, driving innovation to serve society in the pursuit of sustainability, justice and equality." –Cynthia Selin, Arizona State University, USA
"For too long, sustainability was considered a low-hanging fruit for science and technology. It appeared to require nothing but an expansion of rational control, optimized performance, more efficient resource-use. This book shows that a more humble, probing, and integrative approach is required for science and technology to genuinely promote sustainable development. Aside from defining the challenge, it provides the conceptual tools for meeting it." –Alfred Norman, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany
"The book edited by Ângela Guimarães Pereira and Silvio Funtowicz on Science, Philosophy and Sustainability, is a sign of hope. If humanity wants to address and overcome the vital challenges of global environment crisis we will need a New Organon for scientific research and scientific debate. This book is a milestone in the right path." –Viriato Soromenho Marques, University of Lisbon, Portugal
"The Cartesian dream of absolute scientific knowledge and absolute technological power has suffered greatly over the past decades, giving way to increasing paradox, confusion, indeterminacy and concerns over technology’s perverse effects. This outstanding collection of articles is required reading for anyone seeking to understand this philosophical, scientific, technological and social crisis." –Tsjalling Swierstra, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
"Overall, this is an excellent study that should be required reading for think tanks and policymakers."
