Nancy Cartwright

It is often supposed that the spectacular successes of our modern mathematical sciences support a lofty vision of a world completely ordered by one single elegant theory. Meer

In this sequence of philosophical essays about natural science, Nancy Cartwright argues that fundamental explanatory laws, the deepest and most admired successes of modern physics, do not in fact describe the regularities that exist in nature. Meer

The Tangle of Science argues that the scientific method, rigour, and objectivity are insufficient to guarantee reliability. It shows how reliable science is underpinned by a vast network of other scientific products, brings into focus neglected areas of science, and emphasizes how every product works together to support results we can trust. Meer

Over the last twenty or so years, it has become standard to require policy makers to base their recommendations on evidence. That is now uncontroversial to the point of triviality--of course, policy should be based on the facts. Meer