An Instinct for Truth: Curiosity and the Moral Character of Science

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Robert T. Pennock (University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University)

An Instinct for Truth

Curiosity and the Moral Character of Science

Robert T. Pennock (University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University)

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English

MIT Press
13 August 2019

Ethics & moral philosophy; Philosophy of science; Bio-ethics

Series: The MIT Press

"An exploration of the scientific mindset-such character virtues as curiosity, veracity, attentiveness, and humility to evidence-and its importance for science, democracy, and human flourishing.

Exemplary scientists have a characteristic way of viewing the world and their work- their mindset and methods all aim at discovering truths about nature. In An Instinct for Truth, Robert Pennock explores this scientific mindset and argues that what Charles Darwin called ""an instinct for truth, knowledge, and discovery"" has a tacit moral structure-that it is important not only for scientific excellence and integrity but also for democracy and human flourishing. In an era of ""post-truth,"" the scientific drive to discover empirical truths has a special value.

Taking a virtue-theoretic perspective, Pennock explores curiosity, veracity, skepticism, humility to evidence, and other scientific virtues and vices. He explains that curiosity is the most distinctive element of the scientific character, by which other norms are shaped; discusses the passionate nature of scientific attentiveness; and calls for science education not only to teach scientific findings and methods but also to nurture the scientific mindset and its core values.

Drawing on historical sources as well as a sociological study of more than a thousand scientists, Pennock's philosophical account is grounded in values that scientists themselves recognize they should aspire to. Pennock argues that epistemic and ethical values are normatively interconnected, and that for science and society to flourish, we need not just a philosophy of science, but a philosophy of the scientist."

By: Robert T. Pennock (University Distinguished Professor Michigan State University)
Imprint: MIT Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 29mm
ISBN: 9780262042581
ISBN 10: 0262042584
Series: The MIT Press
Pages: 448
Publication Date: 13 August 2019
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Robert T. Pennock is University Distinguished Professor of History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science at Michigan State University in the Lyman Briggs College and the Departments of Philosophy and Computer Science and Engineering. He is the author of Tower of Babel- The Evidence against the New Creationism (MIT Press).