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SISP366

Cultural Studies of Scientific Knowledge
SISP366 SP

Crosslistings: WMST365

Next Offered in 9798 SP

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 which 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: Discussion Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS PHIL

Prerequisites: SISP202 or SISP203 or WMST209 or SISP205

Last Updated on MAR-10-1997




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