Synopses & Reviews
Science/Technoscience has moved to center stage in debates over change, power and justice in twenty-first century societies. This text provides a general framework for understanding, combining and applying the rich range of approaches that exist within sociology about science: in particular, the role (and limitations) of science in generating knowledge, and the relationship between scientific knowledge and social progress. Drawing on case studies such as the genetics and computing "revolutions," this is a clear, even-handed and comprehensive introduction to the field.
About the Author
Matthew David is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Plymouth.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Science: Risk, Authority and Democracy * The Emergence of a Sociology of Science Science and Institutional Interests: The Strong Programme and Beyond * Science and Language/Interaction: Ethnography and Discourse * Science and Capitalism: Critical Theory and Critical Realism * Science and Patriarchy: Women as Subjects/Objects of Science * Putting Perspectives Together * The Way Ahead: The Revolution in Computing * Second Nature: The Revolution in Genetics * Conclusion