Taking examples from across the natural and social sciences, this ambitious book examines the deep-seated assumptions that underpin the discovery of knowledge, and claims that all scientific methods are delusions in pursuit of theory. his book seeks to deconstruct the process of scientific knowledge discovery and theory construction by scrutinizing the circumstances under which all scientific hypotheses are conceived. It concentrates on the interrelatedness of observation, paradox, delusion and self reference in scientific theory and method.

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. Taking examples from across the natural and social sciences, this ambitious book examines the deep-seated assumptions that underpin the discovery of knowledge, and claims that all scientific methods are delusions in pursuit of theory. Using Systems Theory, in particular the concept of self-reference, the book argues that the process of observing tricks the human mind into developing a self-consistent description of itself; and a belief in the certainty of a causal 'reality'. Our theories and ways of thinking about the world around us are, in fact, distinct from the 'reality' being observed. This fresh, audacious work makes an important contribution to the study of scientific method, and takes readers out of the comfort zone of their perceived scientific certainty.

"A very interesting and important book." - Professor Guy Fitzgerald, Brunel University, UK

"Excellent and ground breaking. Very well written. Engaging. It is a much needed and original contribution, which will become a key reference in contemporary academic social sciences thinking." - Professor Fernando Ilharco, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Lisbon

"The questions posed by the authors in their book are important. They are also a good reminder to constantly consider the dialectic between knowledge, authority, and its relationship with certainty." - New York Journal of Books