Leaving Us to Wonder

Ramsey Eric Ramsey, Linda Wiener

Description

This exciting collaboration between a biologist and a philosopher explores the meaning of the scientific worldview and how it plays out in our everyday lives. The authors investigate alternatives to scientism, the view that science is the proper and exclusive foundation for thinking about and answering every question. They ask: Does the current technoscientific worldview threaten the pursuit of living well? Do the facts procured by technoscientific systems render inconsequential our lived experiences, the wisdom of ancient and contemporary philosophical insight, and the promise offered by time-honored religious beliefs? Drawing on important Western thinkers, including Kant, Nietzsche, Darwin, Heidegger, and others, Linda Wiener and Ramsey Eric Ramsey demonstrate how many of the claims and conclusions of technoscience can and should be challenged. They offer ways of thinking about science in a larger context that respect scientific practice, while taking seriously alternative philosophical modes of thought whose aims are freedom, the good life, and living well.
Preface

1. A Place to Begin

Curiosity and Wonder
A Place to Begin
Mistaking the Abstract for Concrete
Today's Popular Science
The Spirit of Socrates

2. The Persistence of a Question

Some Background Questions
Kant and the Enlightenment
The Emergence of Evolutionary Theory
The Promotion of Human Sociobiology

3. What Darwin and Nietzsche Saw

Some Background on Darwin and Nietzsche
Darwin's Descent of Man: The Evolution of Morality
Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals: The Evolution of (A Different) Morality
Nietzsche's Differences with Darwin

4. Provoking Thought

Heidegger and the Distinction between Ways of Thinking
Merleau-Ponty and the Importance of Embodied Experience

5. The Limits of Science and the Danger of Scientism: Drawing Out the Consequences for Thinking

Faces that Launched a Thousand Web Site Hits
A More Serious Concern

6. Leaving Us to Wonder

The Difficulty Begins Here
Thinking Beyond and Otherwise
Turning to the Public Sphere
Desire for Public Dialogue
Leaving Us to Wonder

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Sujets

• Philosophy
• Philosophy of science

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791484036
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Leaving Us to Wonder

SUNY series in Philosophy and Biology David Edward Shaner, Editor

Leaving Us to Wonder

An Essay on the Questions Science Can’t Ask

Linda Wiener and Ramsey Eric Ramsey

S U N Y P TATE NIVERSITY OF EW ORK RESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2005 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other wise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

Cover photo courtesy of the National Gallery Picture Library

For information, address the State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Anne M. Valentine

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wiener, Linda, 1957– Leaving us to wonder : an essay on the questions science can’t ask / Linda Wiener and Ramsey Eric Ramsey. p. cm. — (SUNY series in philosophy and biology) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 0-7914-6313-3 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-6314-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Philosophy and science. I. Ramsey, Ramsey Eric, 1960– II. Title. III. Series.

B67.W54 2005 501—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2004048161

Preface

1 Contents

Chapter One: A Place to Begin Curiosity and Wonder A Place to Begin Mistaking the Abstract for the Concrete Today’s Popular Science The Spirit of Socrates

Chapter Two: The Persistence of a Question Some Background Questions Kant and the Enlightenment The Emergence of Evolutionary Theory The Promotion of Human Sociobiology

Chapter Three: What Darwin and Nietzsche Saw Some Background on Darwin and Nietzsche Darwin’sDescent of Man: The Evolution of Morality Nietzsche’sGenealogy of Morals: The Evolution of (A Different) Morality Nietzsche’s Differences with Darwin

Chapter Four: Provoking Thought Heidegger and the Distinction between Ways of Thinking Merleau-Ponty and the Importance of Embodied Experience

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1 1 3 5  10  17

21 21 26 30 33

45 45

50

 56 70

77

78

87

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i

Leaving Us to Wonder

Chapter Five: The Limits of Science and the Danger of Scientism: Drawing Out the Consequences for Thinking Faces that Launched a Thousand Web Site Hits A More Serious Concern

Chapter Six: Leaving Us to Wonder The Difficulty Begins Here Thinking Beyond and Otherwise Turning to the Public Sphere Desire for Public Dialogue Leaving Us to Wonder

Notes Bibliography Index

101 105 108

117 117 120 122 133 137

141 153 161

1 Preface This all began before we met, of course. One of us trained in biology and the other in philosophy. It is likely if we were both to have followed the seductions of our initial studies and trainings, then we would in all likelihood have been enemies in today’s so- called science wars. As it stands we both set out on paths diverging from those original beginnings and today we share a similar set of concerns that make us allies. Granted, in this case the allying is made possible in large part by the biologist becoming a philoso- pher as well. Be that as it may, this is not a joining of forces in favor of one camp or the other. Since our first meeting under the auspices of the Ometeca Institute—which seeks to bring together those persons practicing in the sciences and the humanities—we have attempted to create a philosophical way of life together. That is to say, by cultivating friendship through meditating on ques- tions of living well in an epoch whose major manner of being is techno-scientific, together we have fostered an ongoing dialogue. We are not so bold as to think that our friendship nor this collaboration will bring anything like a peace settlement to the science wars, yet we are hopeful that the practice of dialogue rather than mere polemics might be a real, even if small, contri- bution to something worth pursuing. Along with Ometeca’s founding members and its director Dr. Rafael Català, others interested in such collaborations have made opportunities for us to present aspects of our work to other interested persons. A presentation at Harvard University’s Depart- ment of Botany was made possible by Peter Stephens. The event was attended by a number of Harvard biologists and their stu- dents. According to their reports, both groups found the work novel and engaging. Perhaps most important, the younger scien- tists in attendance were pleased that many of their persisting

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Preface

questions (but ones left unaddressed by their scientific training) found expression in our work. Many of these students believed our approaches to the questions allowed them to pursue rather than ignore their fundamental concerns. Yael Lubin of Ben Gurion University, Israel arranged for an important discussion of the work. As with the other scientific venues, this event was attended by members of the scientific com- munity and others working at Ben Gurion’s field station in Sde Boqer. Again many found the debate as we put it forward a significant and cogent challenge to mainstream thinking about science, determinism, and public life. In a similar vein, few of the scientists working in the Genetic Research Group at Los Alamos National Laboratories came with any sympathies for our position. Nonetheless, in the lengthy dis- cussion that followed many found themselves dealing with famil- iar topics in new ways because of the position we advanced. It is safe to say no minds were changed on this day, but habitual ways of understanding the issues where indeed challenged. Moreover, we learned much from having to address their many concerns. Philosophers Martin Beck-Matustik and Patricia Huntington made possible a public reading of a version of our final chapter at the Center For Theoretical Study, Prague, Czech Republic. The Center’s working group of scientists and philosophers offered us many fine insights concerning issues fundamental to the work. We remain grateful for this wonderful opportunity and for the gener- ous insights offered to us by all those in attendance. We thank William Homestead whose reading, late in the pro- cess, corrected mistakes and forced clarifications of parts of the position that otherwise would have remained obscure. His fine suggestions and questions made for a better text despite what faults might remain. Cynthia Gaffney also gave a valuable reading late in the process. In addition, Robert W. Jones offered his expertise concerning the writing and presentation of this project in its many stages and with respect to its various audiences. At various stages of the work a number of undergraduates at Arizona State University, West Campus assisted in the preparation of the manuscript: Jenni- fer Anderson, Barbara Giles, Carol Marshall, Sohinee Roy, and Daniel Smith. We also recognize the administrative support of Dawn Poh. We are thankful for the good work of Liz Marini who prepared the bibliography and the index. In securing the cover art, Charles Lee Mudd’s expertise was invaluable.

Preface

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The project has benefited immensely from the flawless guid- ance of Jane Bunker, our editor at SUNY Press. Her belief in this project breathed new life into it when doubts about it hung heavy in the air. In addition to Ms. Bunker’s support, the production of the text was overseen by Diane Ganeles with patience and care. RER would like to acknowledge his gratitude to and for the friendship of Heidi Bostic, Richard Dienst, and Stephen Pluhacek who make a cell of resistance a living reality. Furthermore, he knows that this work would not have been possible without Diane Gruber whose being-there-with is a beautiful sharing of everything that matters. The vastness of her contributions cannot be calculated.