Limits of Science 2nd edition
APRIL 2021
Science is infinite, but limited. Beyond the internal limits – rules, axioms, laws, theorems, etc. – and others imposed by measuring instruments and techniques, the most important limits are of an ethical, political, economic and financial nature. The four essentials of science are analysed here: character, crises caused by bad scientific behaviour, the role of capital and natural disasters or catastrophes caused by human failings. In 2013, the big surprise for me was the prevalence of fraud in scientific research; seven years later the problem had become a gigantic one. On the other hand, the increasing red tape around funding has further restricted the freedom of scientific research; curiosity has been replaced by the need to produce results. This book also speaks of the threats that come from space, the upsets caused by bioterrorism and the latent dangers of nanotechnology and (super)artificial intelligence. The traditional wars on land, sea and air have been joined by the war being fought in cyberspace. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic is seen as a consequence of our use and abuse of Gaia, the geobiological complex that maintains living conditions on Earth.
Book recommended by the National Reading Plan.
Science is infinite, but limited. Beyond the internal limits – rules, axioms, laws, theorems, etc. – and others imposed by measuring instruments and techniques, the most important limits are of an ethical, political, economic and financial nature. The four essentials of science are analysed here: character, crises caused by bad scientific behaviour, the role of capital and natural disasters or catastrophes caused by human failings. In 2013, the big surprise for me was the prevalence of fraud in scientific research; seven years later the problem had become a gigantic one. On the other hand, the increasing red tape around funding has further restricted the freedom of scientific research; curiosity has been replaced by the need to produce results. This book also speaks of the threats that come from space, the upsets caused by bioterrorism and the latent dangers of nanotechnology and (super)artificial intelligence. The traditional wars on land, sea and air have been joined by the war being fought in cyberspace. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic is seen as a consequence of our use and abuse of Gaia, the geobiological complex that maintains living conditions on Earth.
Book recommended by the National Reading Plan.
More details
Dimensions
13 × 150 × 235 mm
ISBN
978-989-9064-27-0
Book available only in Portuguese
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