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Slater (Bucknell Univ.) and Yudell (California State Univ., Chico) present a carefully crafted, ten-essay collection in which leading philosophers of science explore the relationship between science and metaphysics. The questions of whether, when, and how philosophers should defer to scientists' claims about what aspects really exist in the world is a matter of long-standing importance in the philosophy of science and in philosophy writ large. The contributors express a range of views but agree that it behooves philosophers to attend to the details, practice, and history of science when answering these questions. The volume is at the forefront of the current philosophy of science on that score. The admirable balance it displays among the types of science its essays address is similarly current. No longer can a collection of this type hope to advance general claims based on examples from physics alone, and the biological and human sciences feature with prominence equal to the physical here. The essays are well written, some outstandingly so, though their deep exploration of specialist debates makes few concessions to the philosophical laity.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals.

Lawson's Technology and Isolation can be considered an advanced introduction to the philosophy of technology, which will be of broader interest than the title may suggest. Lawson (Univ. of Cambridge) carefully reviews important themes and influential writers on the nature of technology, pursuing analyses of the nature of technology to metaphysical and epistemological roots. The review and critiques of others are brief but illuminating, judicious and constructive, concerned to extract important insights building toward a "sophisticated conception" of the nature of technology. The author's aim is a "conception of technology" that avoids simple dichotomies of determinism versus choice, neutral tool versus reinforcing social structure, and realism versus social construction of reality. This conception is no bland "in between" but one that relies on a dynamic interplay of different aspects of technology to explain its multiple roles in human affairs. This text is strongly recommended for those individuals who wish to learn more about the philosophy of technology.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.

With roughly a decade between this fourth edition of The Handbook of Science and Technology Studies and the previous edition (CH, Jun'08, 45-5536), new scholars have had time to find their voices and provide a fresh perspective on a field moving forward. Many articles in this edition cite the beginnings of a new canon, created by those who were working on their PhDs when there were still only two editions. The new work starts with a subject absent from prior handbooks--a discussion of methods. The essays are then broken out into core themes in the field: knowledge, technology, science, and embeddedness. Key takeaways from the work revolve around reflexivity, the diaspora of the objects of study, ethics, governance, discourse, integration of methods and ideas from related disciplines, the plurality of voices, and activism. Unlike previous editions, the fourth makes a concerted effort to address scholars outside the field of science and technology studies. Aside from a few essays that fail to escape their own jargon, the book does an admirable job of making the field accessible, if with a slight loss of depth.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above; researchers and faculty.

What, if anything, unifies the sciences? As science fields, following historical trajectories, become increasingly specialized and use equally specialized models, experimental approaches, technologies, computational procedures, and ways of theorizing (if there is not methodological unity), could there be congruity provided by philosophical underpinnings? This handbook, edited by Humphreys (Univ. of Virginia), contains 42 chapters and is organized in three sections: "Overviews," "Traditional Topics," and "New Directions," and offers a stimulating array of topics that demonstrate the vast richness and utility of the philosophy of science. But while the diversity of essays in this collection indicates that the philosophy of science too has become increasingly specialized, contributor Stathis Psillos (Univ. of Athens, Greece) persuasively argues that a general philosophy of science still has merit and currency. These essays are highly accessible and engaging for both those who are accomplished in the field and those interested individuals who are outside of the field. Although some chapters (may) require more technical knowledge than others, each philosopher provides appropriate background to foster understanding among a wider readership. As a collection that reveals the diversity and unity of both scientific and philosophical endeavor, this is an essential book.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.

This book is a fantastic introduction to the major ethical issues facing modern science. Written by Willmott and Macip (both, Univ. of Leicester, UK), this work concisely and entertainingly outlines the pros and cons of in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, cloning, stem cell research, performance enhancing technologies, life-extending therapies, genetic profiling, brain imaging and behavioral genetics, synthetic biology, and scientific integrity. Each chapter begins with an engaging scenario that immediately draws the reader into consideration of the ethical issue at hand, followed by several "Think about It..." questions that provoke considerable personal reflection. Interspersed within the carefully balanced text are numerous content boxes providing definitions of pertinent terms and asides of interesting supplemental information, concluding with a summary of arguments for and against each issue. This would be an ideal textbook for biomedical ethics courses, as it offers an easily digestible initiation into the current moral dilemmas that are and will be addressed by scientific researchers, health practitioners, and society for years to come. It cannot be more highly recommended for all readers--bench scientists, medical professionals, and general readers alike.Summing Up: Essential. All readers.