The Social Function of Science

DETAILS : 

• Author: J. D. Bernal
  
• Publisher: ‎ Aakar Books
  
• Publication date: ‎ 1 July 2020
  
• Edition: ‎ First Edition
  
• Language: ‎ English
  
• Print length: ‎ 500 pages
  
• ISBN-10: ‎ 9350026635
  
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-9350026632
  
• Item Weight: ‎ 200 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Social Function of Science, authored by the legendary polymath and crystallographer John Desmond Bernal, is a foundational milestone in the sociology of science and science policy studies. Published originally in 1939 by George Routledge & Sons (and widely studied across modern editions from academic imprints like MIT Press), this monumental text effectively launched the discipline known as the Science of Science. The core philosophy of this book is a passionate critique of how scientific research is stifled, misdirected, or underfunded under uncoordinated capitalist structures. Bernal argues that science is not an abstract, isolated pursuit of pure truth conducted in a social vacuum; rather, it is an intrinsically social activity that has a fundamental duty to be systematically organized, publicly funded, and intentionally directed toward the collective welfare, material enrichment, and liberation of humanity.

The text is structurally divided into two major analytical frameworks: an exhaustive diagnosis of the current state of science at the brink of World War II, followed by a visionary blueprint for its transformation. In the first half, Bernal relies on extensive quantitative data, budget records, and institutional surveys to expose how scientific breakthroughs are frequently suppressed by industrial monopolies, hindered by academic inefficiencies, or disproportionately weaponized for military destruction. In the second half, he presents a comprehensive plan for the democratic reorganization of research labs, advocating for centralized state coordination, massive increases in public educational funding, international scientific collaboration, and the elimination of corporate secrecy. By arguing that a planned application of scientific discoveries could easily solve global poverty, disease, and resource scarcity, the volume serves as the definitive manifesto for "Bernalism"—the philosophy of scientific planning for social progress.

ABOUT THE AUITHOR

John Desmond Bernal (1901–1971) was an elite Irish-born British physicist, molecular biologist, and philosopher who is widely recognized as one of the most influential and politically engaged scientists of the 20th century. A pioneer in X-ray crystallography, his groundbreaking research laid the structural foundation for discovered models of proteins, viruses, and the double-helix of DNA. During World War II, he served as a key scientific advisor to the British government's Combined Operations, contributing vital tactical assessments for the D-Day landings.

Bernal’s authorial and analytical style is remarkably encyclopedic, vision-driven, and structurally precise. Writing from the unique vantage point of both a world-class laboratory pioneer and a committed Marxist social philosopher, he avoids detached academic prose in favor of direct, punchy, and urgent sociological critiques. His ability to synthesize complex quantitative research data with macro-economic history allowed him to demystify the scientific establishment, making his literature a timeless blueprint that fundamentally reshaped how modern governments, universities, and international bodies like UNESCO manage science policy.