The economics of science, and the sociology and the economics of scientific knowledge - The sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK)

11 important questions on The economics of science, and the sociology and the economics of scientific knowledge - The sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK)

What is the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge? SSK (1960's)

Study of science as a social activity (using sociological techniques) - scientific output depends on social dynamics


What is true or false regarding scientist's behaviour


Inspired by Kuhn and Merton

What is the difference between the traditional philosophy of science and the SSK?

The traditional philosophy of science focusses on the rules of proper scientific method and things such as logic, truth, assumptions etc.

What is true or false within the theories of science.

= prescriptive: it relies on rules that prescribe rational judgements about what counts as knowledge. (Reichenbach)

How does the SSK reject Reichenbach's distinction between context of discovery and context of justification?

It hold that knowledge is determined according to what theories and concepts are established and accepted according to social, political and professional interests of scientists

- These interests determine what scientists come to regard as knowledge
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What is Scientific Truth/Scientific Knowledge?

Social constructionism, what a specific scientific community considers to be true

The acceptance of a scientific theory is dependent on its compatibilty with social interests of the scientific community rather than its succes in terms of explaining the world

How does the SSK reflect on Kuhn's work on scientific paradigm? (2 aspects)

1. Paradigms are frameworks which cause scientists to see thing from a particular perspective and so make certain fundamental assumptions (even subconciously)
vb: evolution paradigm

2. Scientists attachements to particular paradigms are usually influenced by aspects of the scientific community withing which they have received their training

Why does the SSK reject the received view of science?

Received view of science: there is a priviliged realm of correct scientific reasoning (math, logic and probability)

There is no such priviliged realm, since determining what counts as justified inference is a matter of the scientists beliefs. (paradigm and community)

What are the two main SSK- approaches?

1. Edinburgh strong program
2. Labaratory studies approach

What is the Edinburgh Strong program? Barry Barnes and David Bloor

Strong program: all scientific knowledge is socially constructed. The starting point is the "naturalistic approach" to scientific knowledge


Socialogical should be neutral

What is the laboratory studies approach/ anthropological approach? (Cetina and Latour)

The emphasis is on the daily practice of scientists in their laboratories

- The position taken by laboratory researchers is often called "naive perspective", just describe what they see about the beliefs of a scientific community

What is the Actor network theory?

Michael Callon's actor network theory: science is seen more as a process than as an oderly development towards and ever-increasing number of fixed truths
"Actors interact" Stabalize certain scientific explanations for a while

Why is this applicable to the crisis of 2008?

Because of self selection, macro economic models did not predict the crisis. This is because the ones that did not agree, gave up.

Modern macroeconomics is a social construction that didn't agree with reality, on which policy makers base their theories.
This fantasy replaces reality, so you have to deal with the views held by the editors to get published

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