Unity, Disunity and Pluralism in Science

TL;DR

This paper examines the paradox of high consensus in natural sciences despite underlying heterogeneity, contrasting it with social sciences and emphasizing the value of diversity in scientific progress.

Contribution

It highlights the coexistence of diversity and consensus in science and argues that tolerance of heterogeneity is crucial for scientific development.

Findings

Natural sciences show heterogeneity in theories and methods.

Natural scientists tend to tolerate diversity more than social scientists.

Problems arise from forcing perspectives into total worldviews.

Abstract

We discuss the problems of consensus and unity in science. The natural sciences seem to contrast with many other areas of endeavor in that a high level of consensus seems to exist in them. However, a careful analysis of the structure of particular physical theories,such as those concerned with electrons, shows that there is great heterogeneity of both theory and methodology. We argue that the natural science community tends to be tolerant of diversity. We contrast this tolerance among natural scientists with the more overt disagreement occurring in the social sciences and humanities. Our central theme is that many intellectual problems arise from straining too hard to make a successful perspective into a total worldview.