DOUBLE
REFRACTION
Looking twice at the history of science

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

How to end the science wars: a review of Harry Collins and Jay Labinger, The One Culture? A Conversation About Science, part II/II

This is the long-delayed second part of a two-part review of Harry Collins and Jay Labinger, The One Culture: A Conversation About Science (2001). In the first part I argued that we—by which I mean, roughly speaking, scientists and sociologists of science—would more easily reach agreement about science if sociologists acknowledged their past relativism and if everyone was charitable in debate. It would also help if we set aside the interesting but irrelevant question of whether the truth of a belief can (partly) explain the belief. In this post I make three other recommendations: revive the internal/external distinction, or something like it; be clear about how our visions of science differ, if we think they do differ; and beware tacit philosophy of science. Expand post.

12 comments:

  1. Michael, good to see part 2. I didn't have any immediate reactions, but then historians of science on social media began to express unreserved approval for Steven Shapin's scathing Wall Street Journal review of Steven Weinberg's new book.

    I don't think we need to consider ourselves to be on Team Weinberg to find Shapin's reply unduly divisive, essentially disenfranchising scientists from the writing of their own history because of their lack of historiographical expertise and their presumed ideological commitment to preserving the perception of the sanctity of their enterprise. I suppose you could say Weinberg provoked the response (I haven't read his book), but your diagnosis of at least some of the failures of The One Culture do seem to continue to apply to the way many of our colleagues react to and portray scientists. Scientists may not have the sharpest language to address historical, sociological, and philosophical problems, but their perspective does matter, and their objections and contributions ought to be taken seriously.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much for drawing my attention to the Shapin review, which I think is so informative that it deserves a separate post, which I have just put up. Like you, I have not read Weinberg's book. But I agree with you that Shapin is needlessly divisive in his criticisms. I would go one step further, though, and say that some of Shapin's criticisms would be unfair even if they were directed at historians (as opposed to scientists). In other words, Shapin is mistaken about how to do history of science, not just about how to communicate historical best practice to scientists.

      Delete
  2. replique fendi chaussures, combinant un style élégant et une technologie de pointe, une variété de styles de pas cher fendi polos, le pointeur se place entre votre style gustatif exclusif.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jayamix Ultra High Strength Concrete; Jayamix Waterproof Concrete; Jayamix Industrial Floor Concrete; Jayamix Marine Concrete; Jayamix Freezing Room Concrete ... harga jayamix per kubik

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why Play Slots at 55XO ? · Support Android and IOS Anywhere · We Have a Safety Policy · Fun in Game We pick from current popularity · Various games We ... สล็อตjili

    ReplyDelete
  5. PGSLOT online slots are really easy to play. With a lot of good offers. Play xo slots here 1slot.co win free credits every day. pg slot เครดิตฟรี

    ReplyDelete
  6. Serum Find the right product for you. including hair care products, hair coloring, makeup, foundation, lipstick and skin care treatments anti wrinkle that meets the needs ... ไฮยาลูรอน

    ReplyDelete
  7. We Continue To Add New UTV Products Every Day To Be The Leader In ATV Parts and ATV Accessories Options, So You Can Customize Your Vehicle The Way You Want. muller

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shiba Inu is now firmly part of the rebound rally that took place on both the altcoin and crypto markets. The cryptocurrency has had its ... NFTMetaverseFinance.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. We promise to take the lead in the business trip massage post-paid business trip system with no advance payment through a highly satisfied community with proven business trip massages at all times in Korea. 출장마사지

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello Guys,
    Check out the Best Rangoli and Mehandi Designs for you and your Family Functions.

    ReplyDelete