The Workshop and the World

A fascinating look at key thinkers throughout history who have shaped public perception of science and the role of authority. When does a scientific discovery become accepted fact? Who decides? And how should everyday citizens interact with the scientific process-“the workshop”? Science historian Robert P. Crease answers these questions by introducing us to ten of the world s greatest thinkers and explaining how they shaped scientific progress. At a time when the Catholic Church assumed total authority, Bacon, Galileo and Descartes were the first to articulate the idea of scientific expertise, while writers such as Shelley and Comte questioned the scientific process itself. Centuries later, scholars such as Ataturk and Arendt examined the relationship between the scientific community and the public especially in times of deep distrust in experts. An exploration of what it means to practise science for the common good and who can question expertise, this book will help readers understand how we got to this current moment of great anti-science rhetoric and what we can do about it.