The University of Kansas

Two KU professors mediate 'Science Wars'

By Ranjit Arab
A book co-edited by two KU professors might well serve as a peace treaty in the ongoing war of words between scientists and their critics.

After the Science Wars, a collection of essays released by British-based Routledge publishing company, is the brainchild of Philip Baringer, professor of physics and astronomy at KU, and Keith Ashman, adjunct assistant professor of physics and astronomy at KU and Baker University.

The professors came up with the idea for the book following the success of a 1997 conference on the KU campus. That conference, “Science and Its Critics,” explored key arguments between noted scientists and social scientists.

After the conference, Baringer and Ashman asked several of the participants if they would expand on their discussions.

The result is a book of 12 essays from scholars representing a variety of disciplines — from physicists to philosophers — that tackles such heady topics as whether there is an objective reality, and if so, can science really help explain it.

“The main things we asked of our contributors were number one, to try to speak to a broad audience, and number two, to say whatever they darned well pleased,” Baringer said. “It was written with sort of an interested undergraduate in mind, who wasn’t necessarily in one of these disciplines.”

Philip Baringer

Keith Ashman

Baringer said he believed After the Science Wars is the first book to actually bring together the opinions of the opposing camps in one book — no easy task for two editors who come from a strong scientific background.

“Without telling which essays, I’d say there were several points in the book where I would take strong exception to what the author is saying, but that was part of the idea,” Baringer said. “We know we disagree on these things but let’s sit down at the same table and talk about it. As you read the book you see there is some common ground.”

Along with Ashman and Baringer, four other KU professors contributed to the book. Among them was Ann Cudd, professor of philosophy. Cudd’s essay was an extension of the 15-minute presentation she gave at the conference on the need to include more perspectives from different races and genders in the sciences.

The book concludes with two science-fiction short stories from James Gunn, KU professor emeritus of English. In many ways, Baringer said, science fiction provided the perfect bridge between the two camps.

Other KU contributors were Adrian L. Melott, professor of physics and astronomy, and David Norman Smith, associate professor of sociology.