Black Boxes: How Science Turns Ignorance Into Knowledge

Science is not a progressive accumulation of knowledge and facts, but rather a complex interaction between knowledge and ignorance. This book explores an original conception of the nature and advancement of science, focusing on the black box, a metaphorical term used by scientists for the isolation of a complex phenomenon that they have deliberately set aside or may not yet fully understand. By detailing some fascinating episodes in the history of biology, psychology, and economics, Nathan shows how the insights of both reductionism and antireductionism can be reconciled into a fresh and exciting approach to science.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Science is often portrayed in textbooks and popular venues as a progressive accumulation of knowledge and facts, akin to building a brick-by-brick structure. However, this portrayal is now widely rejected by most specialists. Instead, there are two competing models of the scientific enterprise: reductionism and antireductionism. Reductionism posits that scientific knowledge can be broken down into smaller, more fundamental components, while antireductionism argues that scientific knowledge cannot be reduced to a singular explanation. Neither model adequately captures the complex interplay between knowledge and ignorance, effectively replacing the traditional metaphor of the "wall of knowledge."

In his book, "The Black Box: A New Conception of the Nature and Advancement of Science," Marco J. Nathan proposes a novel perspective on the nature and development of science. Nathan emphasizes the significance of a concept often overlooked but crucial to scientific progress: the black box. The black box is a metaphorical term used by scientists to describe the isolation of a complex phenomenon that they have deliberately set aside or may not fully understand. It serves as a container for the accumulation of empirical knowledge, even when some aspects of the phenomenon remain mysterious.

Nathan's monograph provides an overarching framework for thinking about black boxes and discusses prominent historical cases where they have been employed. He revisits foundational questions about causation, explanation, emergence, and progress, demonstrating how insights from both reductionism and antireductionism can be reconciled to form a fresh and exciting approach to science. Through detailed accounts of episodes in the history of biology, psychology, and economics, Nathan illustrates how the black box can be used to enhance our understanding of complex systems and promote scientific progress.

In conclusion, textbooks and popular venues often present science as a linear accumulation of knowledge, neglecting the complex interplay between knowledge and ignorance. However, Marco J. Nathan's book "The Black Box" offers a novel perspective on the nature and advancement of science, emphasizing the significance of the black box as a metaphorical concept that allows for the accumulation of empirical knowledge even when some aspects of a phenomenon remain mysterious. By reconciling insights from reductionism and antireductionism, Nathan presents a fresh and exciting approach to science that can help us better understand complex systems and promote scientific progress.

Weight: 608g
Dimension: 165 x 243 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190095482