A new book by Dr Dominique Chu, a computer scientist at the University of Kent, provides fresh insights into the relationship between science and society, as well as shedding light on topical aspects of modern life.<\/p>\n
Titled, The Science Myth – God, society, the self, and what we will never know, the book challenges the commonly-held view that science or the \u201cscientific method\u201d is somehow a privileged or more reliable way to generate knowledge than other human activities.<\/p>\n
Dr Chu describes science as a social system and explains how fashions, beliefs and fads can shape the \u201cscience of the day\u201d as much as experimental data does. The book also discusses how a belief in science can influence and constrain decisions; sometimes even preventing new and effective solutions to real-work problems.<\/p>\n
Using examples, such as evidence-based healthcare and climate research to illustrate the science-society interface, the book describes why, for example, certain healthcare treatments are prioritised and funded according to \u201cscientific method\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dr Chu said: \u2018Science is such an important part of modern life. But it is time to develop a more critical understanding of what science does, how it works, so we can best use it for the good of society.<\/p>\n
\u2018Too often important decision-makers act as though the scientific method and science is somehow special and more reliable than other knowledge-generation methods. While scientific input into decision-making is important, it must be remembered that science itself is limited in its scope. Relying too much on it will lead to poor decision-making.\u2019<\/p>\n
The book concludes boldly that there are no rules to science, and hence there is no such thing as the \u201cscientific method\u201d.<\/p>\n
Dr Chu is a lecturer in computer science in the\u00a0School of Computing<\/a>\u00a0at the University of Kent. His research focuses on computational models of living systems and biocomplexity. He also regularly publishes on the philosophy of science.<\/p>\n The Science Myth – God, society, the self, and what we will never know<\/em>\u00a0is published on 31 May 2013 by IFF Books. Review copies on request, via email:\u00a0maria.barry@o-books.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"