An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies

Informationen zum Autor Sergio Sismondo teaches Philosophy and Sociology at Queen's University! Canada. He is the author of Science Without Myth: On Constructions! Reality! and Social Knowledge (1995)! The Art of Science (with Boris Castel! 2003)! and numerous articles on subjects ranging from computer simulation to pharmaceutical research. Klappentext "An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies! Second Edition" reflects the latest advances in the field while continuing to provide students with a road map to the complex interdisciplinary terrain of science and technology studies. Distinctive in its attention to both the underlying philosophical and sociological aspects of science and technologyExplores core topics such as realism and social construction! discourse and rhetoric! objectivity! and the public understanding of science Includes numerous empirical studies and illustrative examples to elucidate the topics discussedNow includes new material on political economies of scientific and technological knowledge! and democratizing technical decisionsOther features of the new edition include improved readability! updated references! chapter reorganization! and more material on medicine and technology Zusammenfassung Distinctive in its attention to both the underlying philosophical and sociological aspects of science and technology! the second edition of this popular textbook provides students with an up-to-date road map of the complex interdisciplinary terrain of science and technology studies. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface vii 1 The Prehistory of Science and Technology Studies 1 2 The Kuhnian Revolution 12 3 Questioning Functionalism in the Sociology of Science 23 4 Stratification and Discrimination 36 5 The Strong Programme and the Sociology of Knowledge 47 6 The Social Construction of Scientific and Technical Realities 57 7 Feminist Epistemologies of Science 72 8 Actor-Network Theory 81 9 Two Questions Concerning Technology 93 10 Studying Laboratories 106 11 Controversies 120 12 Standardization and Objectivity 136 13 Rhetoric and Discourse 148 14 The Unnaturalness of Science and Technology 157 15 The Public Understanding of Science 168 16 Expertise and Public Participation 180 17 Political Economies of Knowledge 189 References 205 Index 236 ...

Autorentext

Sergio Sismondo teaches Philosophy and Sociology at Queen's University, Canada. He is the author of Science Without Myth: On Constructions, Reality, and Social Knowledge (1995), The Art of Science (with Boris Castel, 2003), and numerous articles on subjects ranging from computer simulation to pharmaceutical research.

Klappentext

Distinctive in its attention to both the underlying philosophical and sociological aspects of science and technology, the second edition of this popular textbook provides students with an up-to-date road map of the complex interdisciplinary terrain of science and technology studies. After presenting the broad historical background to the field, the book explores a variety of relevant topics, among them realism and social construction, discourse and rhetoric, objectivity, and the role of experiment and theory. Numerous illustrative examples and empirical studies elucidate such topics as nuclear missile testing, the cold fusion controversy, teaching mathematical physics in the 19th century, digital rights management, pharmaceutical clinical trials, and sick building syndrome. This updated, expanded, and reorganized new edition also now includes new material on political economies of scientific and technological knowledge and the democratization of technical decisions.

Inhalt

Preface. 1. The Prehistory of Science and Technology Studies. 2. The Kuhnian Revolution. 3. Questioning Functionalism in the Sociology of Science. 4. Stratification and Discrimination. 5. The Strong Programme and the Sociology of Knowledge. 6. The Social Construction of Scientific and Technical Realities. 7. Feminist Epistemologies of Science. 8. Actor-Network Theory. 9. Two Questions Concerning Technology. 10. Studying Laboratories. 11. Controversies. 12. Standardization and Objectivity. 13. Rhetoric and Discourse. 14. The Unnaturalness of Science and Technology. 15. The Public Understanding of Science. 16. Expertise and Public Participation. 17. Political Economies of Knowledge. Works Cited.