The vast majority of Greg Egan's writings concern science and the scientific process. Even when pointing out all the ways things can be unfair or go wrong, his fiction reflects a shining optimism that through the advancement of science the human race can achieve wonders. This chapter sets Egan's work in the context of some broader clashes between science and society at large. Several of his stories address the conflict between science and religion, and others look at the conflict between the humanities and scientific fields in academia. The chapter applies some criticisms of pure science to various Egan stories and then ends with a defense of science and science fiction as meaningful elements of human experience.