Making Natural Knowledge: Constructivism and the History of ScienceArguably the best available introduction to constructivism, a research paradigm that has dominated the history of science for the past forty years, Making Natural Knowledge reflects on the importance of this theory, tells the history of its rise to prominence, and traces its most important tensions. Viewing scientific knowledge as a product of human culture, Jan Golinski challenges the traditional trajectory of the history of science as steady and autonomous progress. In exploring topics such as the social identity of the scientist, the significance of places where science is practiced, and the roles played by language, instruments, and images, Making Natural Knowledge sheds new light on the relations between science and other cultural domains. "A standard introduction to historically minded scholars interested in the constructivist programme. In fact, it has been called the 'constructivist's bible' in many a conference corridor."—Matthew Eddy, British Journal for the History of Science |
Contents
Challenges to the Classical View of Science | 1 |
1 An Outline of Constructivism | 13 |
2 Identity and Discipline | 47 |
3 The Place of Production | 79 |
4 Speaking for Nature | 103 |
5 Interventions and Representations | 133 |
6 Culture and Construction | 162 |
The Obligations of Narrative | 186 |
| 207 | |
| 229 | |
Other editions - View all
Making Natural Knowledge: Constructivism and the History of Science, with a ... Jan Golinski No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
aims analysis apparatus argued artifacts Biagioli Bloor Boyle Boyle's Bruno Latour century claims Collins construction constructivism constructivist constructivist analysis context controversy crucial culture David Bloor debate disciplinary disciplines discourse disputes early-modern empirical ence entific example experience fact fieldwork Fleck Galileo Galison Geison Harry Collins hermeneutics historians history of science human identity images individuals institutions instruments interpretation investigation issues kind Kuhn Kuhn's laboratory language Latour maps material means Mertonian metaphor method metrology narrative natural knowledge networks nonetheless nonhuman notion objects original paradigm particular perspective phenomena philosophical photographs phrenology practitioners problem production readers realm relations representation rhetorical role Royal Society Rudwick scientific community scientific knowledge scientific practice scientific revolution scientists semiotic Shapin and Schaffer Simon Schaffer skills social sociological sociologists sociology of science specific Steven Shapin story Strong Programme studies suggests techniques texts theoretical tion tradition understanding University