Puzzles, Problems, and Enigmas: Occasional Pieces on the Human Aspects of Science

Philosophical puzzles, political problems, ethical enigmas - science has them all. Do some theories stink? Is research a gentlemanly art or a tough professional game? What happens to scientists who go gaga? Can scientific knowledge be treated as a commercial commodity? How can research be made relevant to national development? Is war good for physics? What should scientists do about Soviet dissidents? How does information become knowledge? Why bother about examinations? These and many other topics on the human side of science are discussed in this wide-ranging book, originally published in 1981. As an experienced theoretical physicist, Professor Ziman speaks about science from the inside. As a long-time advocate of social responsibility in science, technology and education, he looks critically into science from the outside. He exposes for the layman, with wit and nerve, some of the most challenging issues of the time.