New Books in Public Policy Jacob Stegenga, "Heart of Science: A Philosophy of Scientific Inquiry" (U Chicago Press, 2026)
Mar 10, 2026
Jacob Stegenga, philosopher of science and professor at Nanyang Technological University, argues science should prioritize justification and shared standards over immediate truth. He discusses common knowledge, evaluating scientific practice in real time, indigenous knowledge and diversity as tools for objectivity, and how values and progress fit into a means-oriented view of science.
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Book Emerged From Intensive Cambridge Research Group
- Stegenga recounts how a Cambridge research group critiqued successive drafts, which unexpectedly produced multiple chapters and then a book.
- He wrote six to seven chapters over months after circulating drafts among his PhD group in early 2023.
Justification Is The Heart Of Scientific Evaluation
- Jacob Stegenga argues philosophy of science should be process-oriented, centering justification rather than truth for evaluating scientific work.
- He compares checking a bread recipe (process) to tasting the baked loaf (product) to show justification is accessible in real time while truth often isn't.
Science Aims For Common Knowledge Not Just Private Truths
- Stegenga defines science's constitutive aim as common knowledge: true claims with broad consensus about both the claim and its justification.
- Common knowledge requires publicity and exposure of reasons, which enables criticism and iterative improvement of scientific claims.
