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The Psychology of Science and the Origins of the Scientific Mind | 
 enlarge | Author: Gregory J. Feist
Publisher: Yale University Press
Category: Book
Buy New: $25.00
New (1) Used (1) from $24.72
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 1521755
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0300143273
Dewey Decimal Number: 509
EAN: 9780300143270
ASIN: 0300143273
Publication Date: September 9, 2008 (In 2 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
In this book, Gregory Feist reviews and consolidates the scattered literatures on the psychology of science, then calls for the establishment of the field as a unique discipline. He offers the most comprehensive perspective yet on how science came to be possible in our species and on the important role of psychological forces in an individual’s development of scientific interest, talent, and creativity. Without a psychological perspective, Feist argues, we cannot fully understand the development of scientific thinking or scientific genius.
The author explores the major subdisciplines within psychology as well as allied areas, including biological neuroscience and developmental, cognitive, personality, and social psychology, to show how each sheds light on how scientific thinking, interest, and talent arise. He assesses which elements of scientific thinking have their origin in evolved mental mechanisms and considers how humans may have developed the highly sophisticated scientific fields we know today. In his fascinating and authoritative book, Feist deals thoughtfully with the mysteries of the human mind and convincingly argues that the creation of the psychology of science as a distinct discipline is essential to deeper understanding of human thought processes.
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| Customer Reviews:
What Others Are Saying about The Psychology of Science December 1, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Winner, William James Book Award, American Psychological Association, 2007: "Feist argues convincingly for an integrated study of the psychology of science. The writing is entertaining and compelling. The book should be of interest to every psychologist and a very wide audience of educated laypersons" (Prize Committee)
"This book does two things: It provides a comprehensive review of the origins and development of scientific thinking, and it argues for a dedicated study of the psychology of science. . . . The book is entertaining and introduces a perspective on understanding science and the scientific mind that should benefit a wide audience."--Magda Osman, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)
"Have you ever wondered what goes on inside scientists' heads when they formulate a grand theory? Or when they decide what hypothesis to test? How does this differ from the mundane reasoning involved when you explain why your car won't start or choose a birthday present for a relative? More generally, do scientists use the same cognitive mechanisms available to us all (supplemented with formal, conceptual, and technological tools)? Or does scientific thinking require more specialized cognitive abilities, available to only a talented few? If you are interested in such questions, then Gregory Feist's The Psychology of Science and the Origins of the Scientific Mind is the book to read...The Psychology of Science and the Origins of the Scientific Mind succeeds on many levels. Feist pulls together a vast range of psychological research with clarity and insight, and he advances an intriguing framework for the cognitive origins of scientific thinking. The book makes a strong case for an integrated study of the psychology of science."--David Lagnada, Science
"A fascinating look at the subject of science and scientific knowledge, The Psychology of Science is a worthwhile book for both academic and non-academic audiences."--Shereen Hassanein, Metapsychology
"Gregory Feist's new book covers two broad topics. The first and longest part is an extended argument that a large body of recent work implicitly falls under the rubric "psychology of science." Feist reviews studies from neuroscience, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, personality psychology and social psychology to support his assertion. The second part of the book presents a novel theory of the origins of science as the outgrowth of evolutionary processes...Even a casual browse will uncover many fascinating findings...A rich and diverse book."--Ryan Tweney, American Scientist
An important discipline- establishing work October 16, 2006
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book makes an argument for the establishment of a new academic discipline, " The Psychology of Science". In its first part it discusses the qualities and character of those who do scientific work. In its second it gives a evolutionary psychological explanation of the development of science. This development is summarized by Russ D. Tweny in his outstanding review of this book in 'American Scientist'
The explanation " builds on recent work in evolutionary psychology, cognitive anthropology and evolutionary biology, applying concepts from all of these areas to sketch a theory of how the modern scientific mind could have evolved. Drawing from such writers as Mervin Donald and Steven Mithen, Feist proposes four stages, beginning with "preverbal science," originating perhaps two million years ago, in which predictive folk science operated. The evolution of language (which took place perhaps 50,000 years ago) triggered a second phase, "verbal science," in which storytelling, myth and cosmological explanations appeared, followed by the emergence of externalized representations (about 30,000 years ago--think cave paintings). These depictions signaled the beginning of a phase of applied science in which units of measurement, rudimentary mathematical operations, archaic forms of astronomy and the like were developed, culminating in the engineering achievements of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The final stage, that of "pure science," then emerged with the ancient Greeks (around 2,600 years ago), opening the door to science as we think of it today."
Tweney wonders whether Feist's definition of Scientific work is not too broad but he highly endorses the book as a rich and comprehensive pioneering study.
As our world is more and more dominated in 'truth- seeking ' by scientific exploration it seems to me that the study in depth of the 'psychology of Science' is an almost inevitable development,one which
this present work advances.
This is a work which not simply scientific researchers, but general readers with interest in Science will probably wish to read.
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