The End of Science?

by Richard Q. Elvee, Ian Hacking, Gunther S. Stent

The title The End of Science? asks not whether science itself is about to end or even to wane, but whether people will stop claiming that science knows nature as it is. Science, it suggests, may know nature only as the scientist sees it. Or the title suggests that, in knowing nature, scientists to some extent create nature. No one bothers to ask philosophers or theologians, poets, or politicians, workers or bosses whether they know the world as it is. It is common knowledge that the world for which they speak has been affected already by their description of that world. Will not the same fate strike scientists now? Has it not already? This is the basic issue that the six distinguished contributors address. They include Sandra Harding, Sheldon Lee Glashow, Ian Hacking, Mary Hesse, Gerald Holton, and Gunther S. Stent. Co-published with the Nobel Conference.

104 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 1991

About the author

For 38 years (1962 to 2000) Reverend Richard Q. Elvee was a fixture at Gustavus Adolphus College where he served as the College’s first full-time chaplain. In addition to his duties as Chaplain, he taught courses in the Religion Department, served as director of the Nobel Conference for 19 years, and led the first Christmas in Christ Chapel worship services in 1972 and then proceeded to serve as Pastor and Artistic Director of the annual tradition for 27 years. In 2001, Gustavus honored Rev. Elvee with the Greater Gustavus Award – the highest award given by the Gustavus Alumni Association.