Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2019

Science on the Ropes

Decline of Scientific Culture in the Era of Fake News

Authors:

  • Analyzes the decline of science and scientific culture in today's Western societies and compares it with the increase in Asian countries

  • Offers a critical perspective about the complex process of science production in a system dominated by the mass media culture

  • Updates the concept of "two cultures -science vs. literacy and social science-" and the conflict between them in the 21st century

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 1-14
  3. Science in the Twenty-First Century

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 15-41
  4. Reason on the Ropes

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 87-102
  5. Science and Economics: A Complex Relationship

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 103-128
  6. Western Intellectuality Against Science

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 129-197
  7. Publish or Perish

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 255-287
  8. Science in the Digital Society

    • Carlos Elías
    Pages 289-330

About this book

In this controversial essay, Carlos Elías addresses the worldwide phenomenon that is threatening the scientific and economic progress of Western countries. The rise and influence of magic and irrationality in the media, in social networks and at universities is a disturbing phenomenon: many Western students no longer want to pursue STEM (Science, Technologies, Engineering, and Math) careers.  
  
This lucid and well-written book addresses one of the key issues of public debate: the deteriorating state of science in Western countries and their governments, and its rise in Asian countries. The author compares two distinct models: the Spanish or Latin model, which closed the door on science with the Counter-Reformation, and that employed by a second group of countries where science was encouraged. Elías suggests that a similar development could now be taking place between Western countries (where the press, television and social science academics are becoming increasingly critical towards science) and Asia, where most prime ministers (and other politicians) are scientists or engineers. 


This book is intended for STEM educators (both at secondary schools and universities), scientists and academics interested in scientific culture in the era of fake news. 

Reviews

“This is a great virtue of Science on the Ropes, which tackles the impending destruction of Western culture with strong and explicit arguments from an integrative perspective typical of an Enlightenment scientist. It does so with courage and without concessions. Furthermore, it maintains the ultimate goal of stimulating both a rigorous debate in the academic community and the progress of scientific and technological knowledge that, ultimately, defines us as a society and constitutes the foundation of Western civilization.” (Francisco Lopez‑Cantos, Metascience, Vol. 30 (1), February 6, 2021)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Spanish National University of Distance, Carlos III University of Madrid Spanish National University of Distance, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Elías

About the author

The author is a former scientist and journalist and now is full professor of Journalism, Science and Society at the Carlos III University of Madrid and UNED (The Spanish Open University). His research focuses on the relationship between policy-making, science, technology and mass media culture. He has been a visiting scholar at the London School of Economics and at Harvard University. He is one of the European academics most interested in uniting the two cultures of Snow - science and humanities - as a way to improve the economic, social and cultural future of Europe.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access