The Politics of Pure Science / Edition 2

by Daniel S. Greenberg

Overview

The Politics of Pure Science, a pioneering and controversial work, set a new standard for the realistic examination of the place of science in American politics and society. Dispelling the myth of scientific purity and detachment, Daniel S. Greenberg documents in revealing detail the political processes that underpinned government funding of science from the 1940s to the 1970s.

While the book's hard-hitting approach earned praise from a broad audience, it drew harsh fire from many scientists, who did not relish their turn under the microscope. The fact that this dispute is so reminiscent of today's acrimonious "Science Wars" demonstrates that although science has changed a great deal since The Politics of Pure Science first appeared, the politics of science has not—which is why this book retains its importance.

For this new edition, John Maddox (Nature editor emeritus) and Steven Shapin have provided introductory essays that situate the book in broad social and historical context, and Greenberg has written a new afterword taking account of recent developments in the politics of science.

"[A] book of consequence about science as one of the more consequential social institutions in the modern world. It is one that could be understood and should be read by the President, legislators, scientists and the rest of us ordinary folk. . . . Informative and perceptive."—Robert K. Merton, New York Times Book Review

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780226306322
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Publication date:	08/01/1999
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	340
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Daniel S. Greenberg is a journalist who has written extensively on science and health politics. He is the author of Science, Money, and Politics: Political Triumph and Ethical Erosion and The Politics of Pure Science, the former published by the University of Chicago Press.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the 1999 Edition
Sir John Maddox
Foreword to the 1999 Edition
Steven Shapin
Acknowledgments and a Note on Sources
Introduction
Book One
I. The Scientific Community
II. Chauvinism, Xenophobia, and Evangelism
Book Two
III. When Science Was an Orphan
IV. The War-born Relationship
V. The Experience of War
VI. Meshing the Incompatible
VII. The Reluctant Leaders
Book Three
VIII. The Government of Science
IX. Mohole: The Anatomy of a Fiasco
X. High Energy Politics
XI. MURA's Last Stand
XII. The New Politics of Science
Afterword
Index

Editorial Reviews

The new edition of a journalistic examination of the political processes which underlay the decisions of funding for American science from 1940 to the mid-1960s. The book includes an afterword by the author updating some of the processes described in the book. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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