The CBC Radio 1 program "Ideas" has been running a regular series since last November called "How to Think About Science." It features interviews with leading historians, sociologists, and anthropologists of science. All of the episodes are now available on-line at http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/features/science/index.html . I thought they might interest some of you.
Episode 22 might be of most immediate interest because it is about the history and character of PTSD -- an interview with McGill anthropologist Allan Young. Although I have not listened to all the episodes, I particularly liked Episode 1, with Cambridge historian of science Simon Schaffer. He talks about his 1985 book, /Leviathan and the Air Pump/, which was one of the first works of what is now called "Science Studies," and which stirred up a great deal of controversy at the time (mostly for what it was /mis/understood to have claimed about the rise of experimental science in the 17th century). It is primarily about the founding of Royal Society of London, some of their early experiments (esp. by Robert Boyle), and the debate Boyle had with philosopher Thomas Hobbes over the claim the experiments have the power command consensus from diverse people about what is factual (in a time of terrible war and religious persecution). Another good one is Episode 4 with U Toronto's Ian Hacking, who talks about several of his books on the rise of probabilistic thinking and on the importance and character of experiment in science (written in an era when philosophers and historians mostly studied great individuals and their theories). My own list of episodes to be listened to soon include those with Lorraine Daston (on the rise of concern about "objectivity"in the mid-19th century), Peter Galison (who co-authored the objectivity book with Daston), and Steven Shapin (who co-authored /Leviathan and the Air Pump /with Schaffer). You will find little description of each episode at the page linked above to help you find those that are most interesting to you. Regards, Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ "Part of respecting another person is taking the time to criticise his or her views." - Melissa Lane, in a /Guardian/ obituary for philosopher Peter Lipton ================================= --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
