1. Epistemology of Science Zuoyue Wang, 2/10/2011 Zuoyue Wang

2. Epistemology of Science Simplified Philosophy of Science: How Does Science Make Truth Claims about the Natural World? Political Science: How Does Science Function as a Model and Tool for Understanding the Human World? Sociology of Science: How Does Society Fit into Science? Science Policy: How Does Science Fit into Society? History of Science: How Did the Debate over These Questions about Science and Its Social Context Actually Play out in History?

3. Einstein on Epistemology of Science Einstein, 1905 –Special relativity built on ether unobservable Heisenberg, 1925 –Quantum mechanics built on electronic orbits unobservable Heisenberg vs. Einstein, 1926 –H: I learned from you –E: A good joke can not be repeated twice!

4. Einstein’s Evolution Einstein started more as an empiricist General relativity led him to be a rationalist –Empirical data do not lead to theory; making a theory always involves a leap of faith, but any valid theory would have to be tested with experiment –Thus his pursuit of unified field theory and his belief in a deeper theory underlying quantum mechanics

5. History and Philosophy of Science Positivist View: Science as a cumulative, progressive process Karl Popper: Science advances not by proving theories true, but by proving them false and revise them Thomas Kuhn: Scientific change not purely a cognitive process, but also a social process

6. Thomas Kuhn Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) Called the most influential book in the social sciences in the second half of the 29 th century Paradigm; Paradigm shift; normal science; scientific community—emphasis on science as a social activity

7. Science Policy Policy for Science and Science in Policy Policy for Science –Government funding of science –From “Men of Science” to “Scientific Community” (David Hollinger) –Big Science, Government Funding, Debate over Science and Government –Scientists no longer as pursuers of truth, but more as interest groups

8. Science in Policy Science in policy refers to how government uses science and technology Controversial science in policy –Regulatory science –Effects of low dose radiation on human health –Global warming Debate over –Is science objective? –Are scientists objective and “disinterested”?

9. Science policy-making by voting? Alvarez: “There is no democracy in physics. We can’t say that one second-rate guy has as much right to opinion as Fermi.” Yet, Science Policy is not science Regulatory policy as a negotiated process –FDA, EPA, CDC Advisory Committees often “voted” on recommendations –IPCC also voted on its findings –Sheila Jasanoff, The Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as PolicymakersThe Fifth Branch: Science Advisers as Policymakers

10. Epistemology of Science Today Much more complicated than the positivist ideal of progressive science approaching truth and delivering social benefits We are more aware of the social construction of science and scientific beliefs We are more wary of scientists with self interest We are more cautious about scientific and technological solutions to our problems Yet, science and technology have continued to play a prominent role in our world today due in part to the belief in the epistemological validity of a scientific enterprise that is by and large evidence-based.

11. My Own Research History of the Discovery of the Equivalence of the Matrix and Wave Mechanics (1985) In Sputnik’s Shadow: The President’s Science Advisory Committee and Cold War America (2008)In Sputnik’s Shadow –science advising involved social and political construction –The negotiation of original Sputnik Moment Science is transnational—how science travels across borders and is transformed in the process (“Transnational Science”)Transnational Science