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Beyond the science wars : the missing discourse about science and society / edited by Ullica Segerstråle.

Van Pelt Library Q175.55 .B49 2000
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Format:
Book
Contributor:
Segerstråle, Ullica Christina Olofsdotter.
Series:
SUNY series in science, technology, and society
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Science--Social aspects.
Science.
Science and state.
Physical Description:
x, 238 pages ; 24 cm.
Place of Publication:
Albany : State University of New York Press, [2000]
Summary:
Beyond the Science Wars offers a broad contextualization of the "Science Wars" -- an ongoing debate between scientists and social scientists over the nature and meaning of science -- from interdisciplinary sociological, historical, scientific, political, and cultural perspectives. Beyond providing an understanding of the conflict itself, this book presents the comments of two science and technology studies' (STS) "founding fathers" (Bernard Barber and John Ziman), a scientist's protest that STS has abandoned its original mission, a historian's view of the fluctuating social support for science, and a sociologist's analysis of the motives of "anti-antiscience warriors".
Contents:
1. Science and Science Studies: Enemies or Allies? / Ullica Segerstrale 1
Contextualizing the "Science Wars" 1
The Constructivist Critique 3
1994
The Annus Horribilis and After 6
Why the Constructivist Position Bothers Scientists 7
Who Has the Right to Criticize Science? A Hidden Issue in the Science Wars 12
The Meaning of Alan Sokal's Hoax 14
Who Owns the History of Science? The Aftermath of the Sokal Hoax 18
The Science Wars Continue: Closing in on Science Studies 21
Plan of the Book 25
Bringing the Scientist Back In 28
2. Antiscience in Current Science and Technology Studies / Henry H. Bauer 41
Recent Developments 42
Is There Really Antagonism against Science in STS? 42
The Fact of Antiscientific Sentiment 42
Antiscientific Sentiment in Perspective 44
Incomprehension of Science 46
Hypocrisy: Preaching versus Practice 47
The Purpose of STS 49
How Did STS Come into Being? 49
My Intellectual Dissatisfaction with Current STS 50
Disciplinary Dilemmas 53
Under What Circumstances Is STS Likely to Thrive? 54
3. Some Patterns and Processes in the Development of a Scientific Sociology of Science: Notes from a Sixty-Year Memoir / Bernard Barber 63
Writing the History of Social Studies of Science 64
The Application of General Social System Theory 64
The Political and Ideological Response 65
The Influence of Nonsystematic Theories 66
No Theory at All: The Importance of a Striking Empirical Fact 67
The Importance of New Research Methods 68
The Weakness of "The Strong Program" 69
The Cross-Fertilization of Sociological Specialties 70
The Cross-Fertilization of Disciplines 71
The Importance of Values and Ideologies 72
In Brief Conclusion 72
4. Anti-Antiscience: A Phenomenon in Search of an Explanation Part I. Anatomy of Recent "Antiscience" Allegations / Ullica Segerstrale 75
Taking the Science Warriors Seriously 76
The Varieties of "Antiscience" 78
Can Scientists Be Antiscience? The Link between the Science Wars and Recent Nature-Nurture Debates 83
Karl Popper's Adverse Effect on the British Science Budget: A Thesis in 1980s Britain 87
5. Anti-Antiscience: A Phenomenon in Search of an Explanation Part II. The Conflict about the Social Role of Science / Ullica Segerstrale 101
The Struggle about the Cultural Meaning of Science 101
"Antiscience" as a Heuristic Device 105
The Political Meaning of Scientific Objectivity 107
The Missing Reason in the Science Wars 112
6. Visions of Science in the Twentieth Century / Valery Cholakov 123
Changing Views of Science 123
Science: The Endless Frontier 124
Science: A Direct Productive Force 125
The Science of Science 126
Chemistry: The Land of Opportunity 127
Science: A Dangerous Power 129
The End of Big Science 131
Redefining Science 132
7. Postacademic Science: Constructing Knowledge with Networks and Norms / John Ziman 135
Science as a Cultural Form 135
Academic Science 136
Elements of the Scientific Ethos 136
CUDOS Institutionalized 138
New Modes of Knowledge Production 139
Networking Intellectual Property 141
Problem Solving in Local Contexts 142
Incorporating Interests into Knowledge 143
Who Sets the Problem? 144
What Counts as Excellence? 145
From Specialized Knowledge to Expertise 146
Where Do the Pipers Collect Their Paychecks? 146
Postindustrial Science 147
Postmodern Knowledge 149
Epistemic Features of Mode 2 150
What Price Objectivity? 152
8. A Social Theory of Objectivity / Stephan Fuchs 155
The Many Meanings of Objectivity 155
Objectivity as Rhetoric 158
Objectivity as Power 159
The Standpoint Paradox 161
Some Empirical Difficulties with the Critical Theory 163
Objectivity and Social Status 165
Some Suggestions for a New Objectivity 166
Objectivity as Medium 169
The Binding Effects of Objectivity 172
Trusting 174
Some Possible Objections 176
9. Science Studies through the Looking Glass: An Intellectual Itinerary / Steve Fuller 185
The Science Wars: A Conflict Waiting to Happen 186
The Prehistory of the Science Wars 186
STS's Induction into the "Academic Left" (and My Induction into STS) 191
The Battle of Britain 197
The Sokal Hoax 201
What Should Have Been Done? What Can Be Done? 206.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN:
0791446174
0791446182
OCLC:
42682853

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