The essays of this book are addressed to some basic issues of Science, Society and Value. A substantial part of the book is concerned with the nature of scientific knowledge. It is argued that because of its humanistic roots science cannot be absolutely objective. Discounting the autonomy claim of science Chattopadhyaya tries to trace its social roots and discover its historical background. Also he discounts the value-neutrality claim of science,-of both social science and natural science. All forms of knowledge, scientific and social, are basically rooted in the human nature and influenced by its cognitive capacity and limits. According to Chattopadhyaya, freedom underpins human inspiration and aspiration and which explains the integral character of facts, ideas and values. He finds no dichotomy between fact and value, between naturalism and humanism, or between subjectivity and objectivity. Objectivity is nothing but inter-subjectivity, sharability of knowledge by suitably qualified people. From this thesis of inter-subjectivity the author argues back to the unity of human nature and community of human interests and intentions. From the analysis of the concepts of unity and community he extracts the larger perspectives of the human unity, democracy and justice. All these elements are claimed to be inputs of much needed civilizational dialogue in a world torn by strife and inequitable levels of deployment.
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