Category Archives: Science in Society

“You either bend the arc or it bends you”

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Eddie Playfair

‘Attack Surface’ by Cory Doctorow. ‘Attack Surface‘ (2020) is a gripping action-packed story of oppression and resistance with plenty of insights into the potential of new technologies and big data. It is also a powerful manifesto for the necessity of … Continue reading →

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Pathologically wrong: Humours and Miasma.

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Eddie Playfair

Humours and Miasma: Science in Society 8. Humoral theory and miasma theory: two long-lasting medical paradigms now consigned to the history of human error but which shaped our ideas about health and disease and the development of medical practice and … Continue reading →

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Reading dystopias

Posted on July 15, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Reading dystopias Utopia: an imagined society or state of things in which everything is perfect or close to perfect. Dystopia: an imagined society or state of things in which things are very far from perfect to a frightening extent. An … Continue reading →

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Science in Society: what you need to know.

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

  AS Science in Society (AQA) A very condensed list of the key science concepts you need to understand well.         Infectious disease, medicines and the germ theory of disease: All living things (organisms) are composed of … Continue reading →

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A few things we know about the universe. Science in Society 7

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

The scale, origin and future of the universe The Earth is one of the 9 known planets which orbit the Sun. It takes one year to make a complete orbit. The planets are very small compared with the distances between … Continue reading →

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The germ theory of disease. Science in Society 6

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Many diseases of humans, other animals and plants are caused by small organisms; microbes, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses which are present in the environment and can be passed on from already infected individuals. Bacteria or fungi may enter … Continue reading →

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Homology, analogy and metaphor. Science in Society 5.

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Reading ‘Much scientific argument and hypothesis-making proceeds through the use of analogy and metaphor’. Steven Rose. To help us understand a scientific process we often liken it to something we’re already familiar with. We use homology, analogy and metaphor. A … Continue reading →

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Paradigm shift. Science in Society 4

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Paradigm shift: the Earth moves away from the centre In Europe 500 years ago, the established paradigm of 2,000 years was built on common sense ideas about the Earth and its place in the universe. This paradigm was summed up by … Continue reading →

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How we do science. Science in Society 3

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Readings Developing and testing scientific explanations When we make observations we may propose a theory which accounts for them. We judge theories on the basis of the match between their predictions and what we observe. An observation is often explained … Continue reading →

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Science and Poetry. Science in Society 2

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Readings Peter Atkins ‘Although poets may aspire to understanding, their talents are more akin to entertaining self-deception. They may be able to emphasise delights in the world, but they are deluded if they and their admirers believe that their identification … Continue reading →

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AS Science in Society: course outline and link to resources

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

AS Science in Society (AQA) Why study AS Science in Society? Science in Society is a distinctive post-16 course. Its main intention is to develop the knowledge and skills that you need in order to grapple with issues related to … Continue reading →

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Is doubt the origin of wisdom? Science in Society 1

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Science as a ‘doubt factory’ “Doubt is the first step towards knowledge” Aristotle “Doubt is the key to knowledge” Persian proverb “By doubting we come to inquiry; by inquiry we perceive the truth” Peter Abelard “Dubitum sapientiae initium” (“Doubt is … Continue reading →

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