Mathematics is often said to be “unreasonably effective” for modeling reality. This phrase mirrors the feeling of surprise when a particular area of mathematics, glittering with crystalline beauty, suddenly turns out to be useful. Such surprises have sprung forth again and again, yet the sense of wonder endures. “Nothing is too beautiful to be true.” Yet during the twentieth century, a curious ...

As technologies are developed and constructed, designers may or may not be aware that they are embedding politics and values into their artifacts. Computer scientists operate and advance their field by building layers of abstraction into software and hardware to reduce the complexity of interfaces, making the artifacts they create zuhanden for others in part by imposing constraints. The increas...

Introduction The explanation of the original title of this book is helpful for understanding its basic theme. “Reason” in the title refers to rational technical disciplines, while experience means the lifeworld of everyday preferences, beliefs, and tastes. These are two seemingly alien dimensions of every technical design. The question of the book is: how do reason and experience combine and co...

There has not been a retreat but a transformation of the state, involving significant changes in both the public sphere of politics and the so-called private sphere of economic activity, and in their modes of interaction, especially law. The privatization of state-owned assets and the reduction of direct state economic intervention have not led to a reduced role of the state but to changes in i...

SHIGERU NAKAYAMA, Science, technology and society in postwar Japan, Japanese Studies Series, London and New York, Kegan Paul International, 1991, pp. xv, 259, £45.00 (0-7103-0428-5). Shigeru Nakayama's new book is a welcome addition to the literature available in English on Japanese science and technology. As the title suggests, the writer, a distinguished historian of science, has set himself ...

SHIGERU NAKAYAMA, Science, technology and society in postwar Japan, Japanese Studies Series, London and New York, Kegan Paul International, 1991, pp. xv, 259, £45.00 (0-7103-0428-5). Shigeru Nakayama's new book is a welcome addition to the literature available in English on Japanese science and technology. As the title suggests, the writer, a distinguished historian of science, has set himself ...

Politics play a central part in determining health and development outcomes as Gorik Ooms highlights in his recent commentary. As health becomes more global and more politicized the need grows to better understand the inherently political processes at all levels of governance, such as ideological positions, ideas, value judgments, and power. I agree that global health research should strengthen...

politics play a central part in determining health and development outcomes as gorik ooms highlights in his recent commentary. as health becomes more global and more politicized the need grows to better understand the inherently political processes at all levels of governance, such as ideological positions, ideas, value judgments, and power. i agree that global health research should strengthen...