The Matter of Facts: Skepticism, Persuasion, and Evidence in Science

(Hardback)

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How biases, the desire for a good narrative, reliance on citation metrics, and other problems undermine confidence in modern science.Modern science is built on experimental evidence, yet scientists are often very selective in deciding what evidence to use and tend to disagree about how to interpret it. In The Matter of Facts, Gareth and Rhodri Leng explore how scientists produce and use evidence. They do so to contextualize an array of problems confronting modern science that have raised concerns about its reliability- the widespread use of inappropriate statistical tests, a shortage of replication studies, and a bias in both publishing and citing "positive" results. Before these problems can be addressed meaningfully, the authors argue, we must understand what makes science work and what leads it astray. The myth of science is that scientists constantly challenge their own thinking. But in reality, all scientists are in the business of persuading other scientists of the importance of their own ideas, and they do so by combining reason with rhetoric. Often, they look for evidence that will support their ideas, not for evidence that might contradict them; often, they present evidence in a way that makes it appear to be supportive; and often, they ignore inconvenient evidence. In a series of essays focusing on controversies, disputes, and discoveries, the authors vividly portray science as a human activity, driven by passion as well as by reason. By analyzing the fluidity of scientific concepts and the dynamic and unpredictable development of scientific fields, the authors paint a picture of modern science and the pressures it faces.

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As the title suggests, Gareth Leng and Rhodri Ivor Lengs collaborative book, The Matter of Facts: Skepticism, Persuasion, and Evidence in Science, presents an insightful, critical, and detailed analysis of the building blocks that comprise statements and ideas broadly considered to be facts. Gareth Lengs expertise in the field of physiology combines thoughtfully with Rhodri Ivor Lengs work in the sociology of science to create a unique perspective on the beautifully faulty and faultily beautiful enterprise of modern science.
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Author Bio

Gareth Leng is Professor of Experimental Physiology at the University of Edinburgh and the author of The Heart of the Brain- The Hypothalamus and Its Hormones (MIT Press). Rhodri Leng is a Doctoral Researcher in Science, Technology, and Innovation Studies at the University of Edinburgh.