Knowledge in Ferment Dilemmas in Science, Scholarship and Society

Dilemmas, fundamental controversies, basic oppositions between methods and approaches occur in all fields of science and scholarship. Often dilemmas arise at the interface where science and society meet, or when several sciences or disciplines clash. The paradox of dilemmas is that although one might prefer to do without them, they are nevertheless indispensable. Without dilemmas progress in science and scholarship would be unthinkable. New paradigms come into existence and compete with the old for acceptance. Thus, by inciting researchers to make new efforts and pose new questions, dilemmas reveal new insights and sustain the ferment of knowledge. In this book, nineteen professors from Leiden University, their fields of expertise ranging from the Classics to Quantum Physics, reflect upon the basic dilemmas or the great controversies that dominate their fields. This book is of interest to students, scholars and scientists in all disciplines. Book jacket.De Jonge, Henk Jan is the author of 'Knowledge in Ferment Dilemmas in Science, Scholarship and Society', published 2007 under ISBN 9789087280178 and ISBN 9087280173.