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SISP366
Cultural Studies of Scientific Knowledge
SISP366 SP
Crosslistings: WMST365
Next Offered in 9899 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-03-1998
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