The Law-Science Chasm: Bridging Law's Disaffection with Science as Evidence - Paperback

by John Paterson (Introduction by), Cedric Charles Gilson (Author)

THE LAW-SCIENCE CHASM is a socio-legal study that takes seriously the varying approaches to science that physicians and scientists use, as compared to legal actors such as judges and lawyers. Offering a way to mediate and translate their different perspectives and assumptions, Gilson uses sociological and philosophical methodologies to explain each discipline to the other.

"Gilson's book takes seriously the idea of the autopoietic closure of society's communicative subsystems and works out the consequences in particular for science and law. This analysis both lends support to the credibility of the approach adopted and sheds light on the problems and the direction in which potential solutions might lie.... The book consequently makes an important contribution not only to the literature dealing with the relationship between science and law but also to the literature dealing with the application of autopoietic systems theory to tangible concerns. This book is therefore of clear significance to those continuing to wrestle with the challenges thrown up by science for law and policy even when the spotlight of public attention is directed elsewhere."

- JOHN PATERSON, Professor of Law,
University of Aberdeen (from the Foreword)

Part of the new Dissertation Series from Quid Pro Books.

Author Biography

CEDRIC C. GILSON is Visiting Fellow in Law in the School of Law at the University of Westminster, London, UK. He continues to study the relationship of science and law in pursuit of truth. He is also interested in using social systems theory to study societal dilemmas such as assisted dying. He has lectured in Regulation of Risk Environments at Master's level as another reflection of his interest in the science-law fault line.