On Science, Society and the Contemporary Condition - Hardcover

by Peter A. Bretscher (Author)

With the massive investment in science since WWII, why are so many scientists questioning science's resilience?

Science is not as objective as often thought. It is conducted in the context of a contemporary culture. The ideals and imagination that propelled so much scientific discovery of the past have been undermined in recent decades. Big-budget projects and the information overload have stultified disciplines, undermining creativity and leading to a hegemony of research silos and a failure to evolve the conceptual frameworks underlying research.

Not only do different instincts govern creativity, but the balance between these instincts is critical to progress. Contemporary culture is a consequence of overwhelming information, promoting analytical thinking at the expense of intuition and imagination. It is difficult to see the wood for the trees. Facing up to and solving paradoxes is a path towards realizing frameworks of ever greater legitimacy and reflecting visions of ever broader scope. The author develops these views in the context of immunology. Seeing the wood is essential to solving major problems of world health, such as AIDS, cancer, and tuberculosis.

Every reading elicits new and fascinating details, engendering a deeper understanding of the author's work and message. Not only is the argument important, but the way it is made exemplifies the elastic and fecund thinking required to challenge current scientific and contemporary culture. This book is as edifying as it is profoundly comforting.