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Academic Year 2000/2001


Cultural Studies of Scientific Knowledge
SISP 366 SP

Crosslistings:
WMST 365

Philosophical and sociological interpretations of science have often been divided by disputes between rationalists and relativists, or between scientific realists and social constructivists. Some of the best recent work, however, including much of the feminist scholarship in science studies, rejects the terms of these debates. Such cultural studies of scientific knowledge insist that knowledge is historically and culturally situated and politically engaged, without thereby rejecting its ability to provide knowledge of the world. This seminar aims to understand and assess such accounts of scientific knowledge that attempt to escape the debates over rationality and realism.

MAJOR READINGS

S. Traweek, BEAMTIMES AND LIFETIMES S. Shapin and S. Schaffer, LEVIATHAN AND THE AIR PUMP A. Pickering, ed., SCIENCE AS PRACTICE AND CULTURE D. Haraway, PRIMATE VISIONS M. Biagioli, GALILEO COURTIER and selected papers by Steve Fuller, Bruno Latour, Helen Longino, Paula Treichler, and Elizabeth Potter.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Seminar presentation, reading abstracts, two papers.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Upperclass students with extensive background in philosophy, social theory, history of science, or cultural studies may request prerequisite overrides from the instructor. N.B.: SOC 237, SISP202, and PHIL235 are equivalent to one of the prerequisites, but an override form is still necessary because the computer won't recognize these course numbers. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS PHIL    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: SISP202 OR SOC237 OR WMST209 OR SISP205 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001


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