What Science Is and How It Really Works

Scientific advances have transformed the world. However science can sometimes get things wrong and at times disastrously so. Understanding the basis for scientific claims and judging how much confidence we should place in them is essential for individual choice societal debates and development of public policy and laws. We must ask: what is the basis of scientific claims? How much confidence should we put in them? What is defined as science and what is not? This book synthesizes a working definition of science and its properties as explained through the eyes of a practicing scientist by integrating advances from philosophy psychology history sociology and anthropology into a holistic view. Crucial in our political climate the book fights the myths of science often portrayed to the public. Written for a general audience it also enables students to better grasp methodologies and helps professional scientists to articulate what they do and why.