These essays on Finalization in Science - The Social Orientation of Scientific Progress comprise a remarkable, problematic and controversial book. The authors propose a thesis about the social direction of scientific research which was the occasion of a lively and often bitter debate in Germany from 1976 to 1982. Their provocative thesis, briefly, is this: that modern science converges, historically, to the development of a number of 'closed theories', i. e. stable and relatively completed sciences, no longer to be improved by small changes but only by major changes in an entire theoretical structure. Further: that at such a stage of 'mature theory', the formerly viable norm of intra-scientific autonomy may appropriately be replaced by the social direction' of further scientific research (within such a 'mature' field) for socially relevant or, we may bluntly say, 'task-oriented' purposes. This is nothing less than a theory for the planning and social directing of science, under certain specific conditions. Understandably, it raised the sharp objections that such an approach would subordinate scientific inquiry as a free and untrammeled search for truth to the dictates of social relevance and dominant interests, even possibly to dictation and control for particularistic social and political interests.

German unification is proving much more difficult than was originally envisaged. The integration of two national economies with different economic orders, different sectoral structures and divergent levels of development seems set to take a long time. This timely examination of the major issues involved emphasises the impact of unification on different sectors of the economy and their likely consequences.

The economic integration of Germany is proving a massive undertaking. The economies of the FRG and the GDR had very different sectorial structures and were clearly at different levels of development. The process of integration continues to be characterized by tremendous structural change and this period of structural adjustment will continue for some time. It has enormous implications for the global economy, and for the European Community in particular. "The Economics of German Unification" examines the most important issues in this transformation process. Having discussed how the unification treaty was arrived at, it looks at the implications for the key sectors, including agriculture and services. Some issues are quite specifically a part of the unification procedure and the book discusses how the unification is being financed and the process of monetary unification. The international dimension is also important, and this is considered both in monetary terms and in terms of international trade flows. Finally, a chapter addresses the relationship between wages, productivity and employment, a crucial question as enterprises in the East struggle to compete with the efficient manufac

These essays on Finalization in Science - The Social Orientation of Scientific Progress comprise a remarkable, problematic and controversial book. The authors propose a thesis about the social direction of scientific research which was the occasion of a lively and often bitter debate in Germany from 1976 to 1982. Their provocative thesis, briefly, is this: that modern science converges, historically, to the development of a number of 'closed theories', i. e. stable and relatively completed sciences, no longer to be improved by small changes but only by major changes in an entire theoretical structure. Further: that at such a stage of 'mature theory', the formerly viable norm of intra-scientific autonomy may appropriately be replaced by the social direction' of further scientific research (within such a 'mature' field) for socially relevant or, we may bluntly say, 'task-oriented' purposes. This is nothing less than a theory for the planning and social directing of science, under certain specific conditions. Understandably, it raised the sharp objections that such an approach would subordinate scientific inquiry as a free and untrammeled search for truth to the dictates of social relevance and dominant interests, even possibly to dictation and control for particularistic social and political interests.