#629 Robert Pennock - An Instinct for Truth: Curiosity and the Moral Character of Science
RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 22nd 2022.
Dr. Robert Pennock is University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, where he is on the faculty of Lyman Briggs College, the Departments of Philosophy and Computer Science & Engineering, and the Ecology, Evolution and Behavior program. His research involves empirical and philosophical questions that relate to evolutionary biology, cognitive science, and the scientific character, such as the evolution of altruism, complexity, and intelligence. He is the author of books like An Instinct for Truth: Curiosity and the Moral Character of Science.
In this episode, we focus on An Instinct for Truth. We go through some of the traits that characterize (or should characterize) scientists, like curiosity, honesty, skepticism, and intellectual humility. We talk about moral values that orient science, and the importance of failure. We discuss the scientific method, the demarcation problem, and pseudoscience. We talk about the relationship between science and ethics. Finally, we ask if science is a cultural construct.
Time Links:
Intro
The traits of a scientist
Are we innately predisposed to science?
Curiosity
Is there a set of moral values that orient science?
Are virtues inherent to scientists or derived from their social milieu?
Honesty
Skepticism
Intellectual humility
The importance of failure
The scientific method, and the demarcation problem
Pseudoscience
A relationship between science and ethics
Is science a cultural construct?
Follow Dr. Pennock’s work!
Follow Dr. Pennock’s work:
Faculty page: https://bit.ly/2ZDkaZz
ResearchGate profile: https://bit.ly/3nHIGk6
Amazon page: https://amzn.to/3pP2Ag0
An Instinct for Truth: https://amzn.to/2ZwX9XM