Review of The Knowledge Machine

February 40, 2020

Michael Strevens argues that modern science is powered by a specific social rule: public argument must center on empirical evidence while setting broader metaphysical disputes aside.

What worked for me:

• Clear explanation of how scientific progress can be messy yet cumulative.
• Good framing of why scientific institutions matter as much as individual genius.

What I wanted more of:

• More detail on how this framework handles fields with weak replication norms.
• More discussion of how incentives and publishing pressure distort the ideal method.

Overall: strong and provocative. I would recommend it if you want a philosophy-of-science book that stays tied to real scientific practice.