Philosophy Of Science Communication

Science communication (SC) means all the scientific activities except the production of science, including the communication within science communities and throughout the whole society. In a narrow sense, SC is intended for the latter exclusively. SC includes three levels, communication within communities, communication within the public and communication among science and other cultures. The concept of communication covers the three levels. SC has turned from one-way process into multi-way one among scientific communities, government, media, education institutions and the public. SC is widening its horizon and deepening its meaning.The history of SC can be divided into three phases: Popularization of Science(PS), Public Understanding of Science(PUS), Science Communication(SC). Internationally, SC has been promoted mainly by three reports from U.K. They have become the basic texts for Chinese researchers to know about the international development of SC. The reports are:LThe Public Understanding of Science{R] London: The Royal Society, 19852. Engineering and Technology[R] London: The Committee to Review the Contribution of Scientists and Engineers to the Public Understanding of Science, 1995.3. Science and Society[R] London: The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology,2000.It is imperative to know communication and communication science before understanding SC. So the paper tries to clarify the two in its Chapter I.The meaning of mutuality within the term communication can't be seen within Chuanbo, the corresponding word in Chinese. So the meaning of mutuality must be emphasized when using Chuanbo, the Chinese word.In the past 100 years, communication science underwent its rising and maturity. In the world, communication science is growing rapidly. As to SC, it is essential for it to absorb the meanings of communication, such as multeity, equality, openness and mutuality, etc.Chapter II pays its focus on the contemporary theories of SC. The researchers always tried to build reasonable models of SC. John DurantAbstractdeveloped his deficit model, and Brian Wynne his reflexivity model. The Science Communication Research Center at Peking University developed its multi-level theory of SC.Chapter III discusses how the horizon of SC is widened by the new theories at the so-called Big Science age. The philosophy of science, the history of science, the sociology of science, science and X(X can be society, religion, art, literature, politics, economic or law, etc.) give SC rich resources. The group of disciplines can be the gateway for science to approach to the public, and helps to make clear what and how to communicate.From the viewpoint of philosophy, the traditional epistemology, on which science is based on, has been thought over. Science is examined from the post-modernity standpoint. Philosophy reveals the metaphysical premises of science, hence it helps break commonsense and define science in its essence. It also helps struggle against anti-science and pseudoscience during SC. On the other hand, the relationship between philosophy and science has something important to SC. To some proper extent, the distinguished scientists are also philosophers.From the viewpoint of history, the history of science is not regarded as an accumulation of scientific knowledge. More and more elements am considered. The history of science provides insight into science and SC. In historical context, it helps to grasp the deep laws of SC.From the viewpoint of sociology, quite a few disciplines are included, such as the sociology of science, STS and SSK, etc. Through them, we can see how science can be communicated in reality. So they help improve the practice ofSC.From the viewpoint of cultural studies, science has been one part of common thinking and living mode of mankind. So we can say that two cultures of science and humanity have come into being. In the cultural context, we can broaden our perspective about science and SC. The all-round development of mankind is one essential...