We all know that there is a kind of bias in the discipline against (too much) "applied" work. Even so, sometimes applications can reveal theoretical fissures and promote creativity. The work of this week's most underrated philosopher, Heather Douglas, improves on standard philosophy of science by showing what science looks like when something is at stake in policy. She uses hard-won insight to create a more mature philosophy of science in a classic and widely cited article a decade ago. The book that develops the ideas more fully looks to have wide appeal within philosophy and the policy sciences. As (tacitly) enshrined in the rules for this series Professor Douglas works in more than one area. She writes with gusto about different sciences in different eras. Who said that relevance diminished philosophic subtlety?
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