Science Studies
Contemporary Western societies are often seen as ‘knowledge societies’. In such societies ‘science’ plays a distinctive role, namely as an important creator of knowledge. Hence, research on science has become popular ever since Merton’s considerations in the 1930ies.
In this seminar we will explore how knowledge is socially constructed in different scientific disciplines: How do research interests emerge? How do researchers compromise on ‘true’ results? Which norms influence scientists? Who gets credit for results? How does society effect science and vice versa?
Starting briefly with classical conceptions (such as Merton and Kuhn) we will mainly work our way through key empirical outputs of Sociology of Science (SOS) as well as Science and Technology Studies (STS).
Requirements:
Oral presentation and written abstracts/essays
Please note this course will be taught in English. However, students with a fair knowledge of English who are prepared to read English texts are very welcome to join and openly discuss prominent theoretical and empirical contributions of an emerging interdisciplinary field.
Recommended reading:
- Merton, Robert K. (1974). The Sociology of Science: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations. University of Chicago Press.
- Knorr Cetina, Karin (1981). The Manufacture of Knowledge. An Essay on the Constructivist and Contextual Nature of Science. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
- Biagioli, Mario (Ed.) (1999). The Science Studies Reader. New York: Routledge.
