An Introduction to Science Studies

Download or read book An Introduction to Science Studies written by John M. Ziman and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1987-07-23 with total page 220 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purpose of this book is to give a coherent account of the different perspectives on science and technology that are normally studied under various disciplinary heads such as philosophy of science, sociology of science and science policy. It is intended for students embarking on courses in these subjects and assumes no special knowledge of any science. It is written in a direct and simple style, and technical language is introduced very sparingly. As various perspectives are sketched out in this book, the reader moves towards a consistent conception of contemporary science as a rapidly changing social institution that has already grown out of its traditional forms and plays a central role in society at large. It will appeal to students in a wide range of scientific disciplines and complement well Professor Ziman's earlier books.