Leaving Us to Wonder: An Essay on the Questions Science Can't Ask

Preface

1 Preface vii 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 socalled 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 philosopher 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 questions 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, contribution 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 Department of Botany was made possible by Peter Stephens. The event was attended by a number of Harvard biologists and their students . According to their reports, both groups found the work novel and engaging. Perhaps most important, the younger scientists in attendance were pleased that many of their persisting 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 community 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 discussion that followed many found themselves dealing with familiar 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 generous insights offered to us by all those in attendance. We thank William Homestead whose reading, late in the process , 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: Jennifer 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. viii Preface The...