Description
REACTIVATING COMMON SENSE (N.E)
Book Summary
At a time when scientific knowledge is part of everyday life, public debate about science has become indispensable. Isabelle Stengers draws on the philosophy of Alfred Whitehead to propose a new pact of trust between science and society, the missing link of which is common sense. This essay invites us to rethink the relationship between expert knowledge and citizenship, offering a critical and constructive perspective that connects process philosophy with the challenges of contemporary denialism.
What is it about?
The work addresses the crisis of trust between science and society, proposing a deep reflection on how to restore a fruitful dialogue. Stengers draws on the thought of Alfred Whitehead, a 20th-century philosopher and mathematician, to argue that common sense—understood not as mere opinion, but as a shared capacity for judgment—can be the bridge that reconciles scientific knowledge with the citizen's experience. The author analyzes how current denialism is not a mere error, but a symptom of a deeper fracture, and argues that the solution does not lie in imposing scientific authority, but in collectively reconstructing the conditions for common understanding. The book is a call to recover "the least common of all senses" as the basis for a democracy of knowledge.
Main themes
- Philosophy of science and epistemology: a critical review of the status of scientific knowledge in contemporary society.
- Relationship between science and democracy: how expert knowledge can be integrated into public debate without nullifying citizen participation.
- Alfred Whitehead's process philosophy: application of his thought to current problems of scientific communication and trust.
- Denialism and skepticism: analysis of the structural causes that generate distrust in science.
- Common sense as a political and epistemic tool: revaluation of the capacity for collective judgment in the face of technocracy.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in the philosophy of science, political theory, and social studies of science, as well as science communication professionals, teachers, and university students. It will also be of great use to anyone concerned about the growing distrust of expert knowledge who is looking for conceptual tools to understand and address this phenomenon from a rigorous and proactive perspective.
What this book offers
- An updated and critical reading of Whitehead's philosophy applied to contemporary problems of science and society.
- A conceptual framework for understanding denialism beyond simple misinformation, as a symptom of a crisis of trust.
- Tools for rethinking the relationship between experts and citizens, opting for a dialogue based on shared common sense.
- An original proposal to revitalize public debate about science without falling into dogmatism or relativism.
- A profound reflection on the role of philosophy in building a more solid democracy of knowledge.
Technical specifications
- Author: STENGERS, ISABELLE
- Publisher: NUEVOS EMPRENDIMIENTOS EDITORIALES S L
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
- Collection: HUELLAS Y SEÑALES
- Date of publication: January 2026
- Number of pages: 208
- Weight: 289 g
Editorial review
Isabelle Stengers offers an erudite and necessary work that connects the philosophical tradition with the most urgent challenges of our time. Her proposal to recover common sense as a mediator between science and society is especially relevant in a context of polarization and distrust. The book stands out for its conceptual rigor and its ability to build bridges between disciplines, although it requires a willingness for intellectual effort from the reader. Without a doubt, an essential read for those who seek to understand the philosophical roots of public debate about science and wish to contribute to rebuilding a more fertile social dialogue.