Science and the Quest for Reality is an interdisciplinary anthology that situates contemporary science within its complex philosophical, historical, and sociological contexts. The anthology is divided between, firstly, characterizing science as an intellectual activity and, secondly, defining its social role. The philosophical and historical vicissitudes of science's truth claims has raised profound questions concerning the role of science in society beyond its technological innovations. The deeper philosophical issues thus complement the critical inquiry concerning the broader social and ethical influence of contemporary science. In the tradition of the 'Main Trends of the Modern World' series, this volume includes both classical and contemporary works on the subject.

Sixteen essays reprinted from a variety of sources discuss the pros and cons of Western scientific thought and practice. Acknowledging that traditional scientific methods can be dehumanizing, reductionist, and imperialistic, the anthology also considers Western science's strengths and the underlying assumptions and motivations behind it. Arrangement is in five parts: science and its worldview, the problem of scientific realism, the nature of scientific change, the boundaries of science, and science and values. Contributors include Martin Heidegger, Thomas Kuhn, Hilary Putnam, Evelyn Fox Keller and Max Weber. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This book follows Theodore Dreiser's quest for the mystery of life, mainly in The «Genius», The Bulwark, and The Stoic. Born a Catholic, and a fervent naturalist in his youth, Dreiser wandered through various «isms» and theories of life. Led by his esthetical sensitivity, his literary solution to the problem was that «Beauty» was the source of Existence. Nobody knows which goal he ultimately reached. Yet he was a serious seeker for Reality until the end of his life.