Knoblauch_Relativism.pdf

This paper revisits, from a new angle, some of the debates over the relativism of the "Sociology of Scientific Knowledge" (=SSK). The new angle is provided by recent work on relativism in epistemology and the philosophy of language. I defend three theses. First, SSK-relativism is not an instance of Paul Boghossian's well-known "template" for relativism. Second, SSK-relativism is therefore not directly threatened by arguments targeting this template position. And third, SSK-relativism is nevertheless in the vicinity of this template, and it offers at least sketches of arguments for distinctive and original relativist theses.

A standpoint where the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing (this is the result of a far too pointed separation of the specialized sciences from epistemology), can only lead to the sterility of contemporary philosophy.

A standpoint where the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing (this is the result of a far too pointed separation of the specialized sciences from epistemology), can only lead to the sterility of contemporary philosophy.

2002

Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus Tiigi 78, Tartu 50410 Tellimus nr. similar hidden inconsistency to emerge in Woolgar's application of reflexivity. Collins & Yearley (1992a & 1992b). In this essay see basically part 2.4. 9 See Lakatos (1971: 9), where he distinguishes between primary internal history of rational reconstruction of science with its internal 'logic', and secondary, external history that shows the deviations from mainstream history.

Journal of The History of The Behavioral Sciences, 1996

In the context of most social theories, perhaps with the exemption of variants of Marxism, the matter of knowledge has not been treated as problematic. The central hypothesis of this paper, and thus of a theory of modern society as a knowledge society, however is that knowledge, and not nature, accidents, violence, catastrophes, power, etc., is more than ever the basis and guide of human action in all areas of contemporary society. The study of knowledge societies is a response to the fundamental observation that modern science is by no means, as is still often assumed, only the key and access to the mysteries of nature and human behavior, but above all the becoming of a world: Knowledge as a motor, not just a camera (cf. MacKenzie, 2006). The extraordinary importance of scientific knowledge in particular does not mean, however, that it will succeed in simply overrunning traditional ways of life and attitudes, as has been hoped or feared time and again.

Metaphilosophy, 1972

In a nutshell, the present essay claims this : First, the classical problem of knowledge has recently shifted from, How do I know? to, How do we know?-from psychology to sociology.

Theory and Society, 1992

British Journal of Educational Studies, 1975