Striving to re-direct the philosophy of science, Philip Kitcher examines the heated debate surrounding the role of science in shaping our lives. Kitcher explores the sharp divide between those who believe that the pursuit of scientific knowledge is always valuable and necessary - the purists - and those who believe that it invariably serves the interests of people in positions of power. He rejects both perspectives, working out a more realistic image of the sciences - one that allows for the possibility of scientific truth, but nonetheless permits social consensus to determine which avenues to investigate. He then proposes a democratic and deliberative framework for responsible scientists to follow.