Stories About Science in Law : Literary and Historical Images of Acquired Expertise

The book presents examples of how literary sources can provide a supplement to our understanding of science in law. Challenging the view that law and science are completely different, insofar as the former is associated with social or communal conventions, rhetorical strategies, and local institutions, the study discusses texts that suggest that science shares those very same features with law.

Presenting examples of how literary accounts can provide a supplement to our understanding of science in law, this book challenges the view that law and science are completely different. It focuses on stories which explore the relationship between law and science, especially cultural images of science that prevail in legal contexts. Contrasting with other studies of the transfer and construction of expertise in legal settings, this book considers the intersection of three interdisciplinary projects: law and science, law and literature, and literature and science. Looking at the appropriation of scientific expertise into law from these perspectives, this book presents an original introduction into how we can gain insight into the use of science in the courtroom and in policy and regulatory settings through literary sources.