ideaology Flashcards
What do many sociologists see modern science as the product of?
Rationalisation
Give examples of the positive impact of science
What has this led to?
Medicine, transport, work, leisure
^ Economic productivity
Give examples of the negative impact of science
What has this led to?
Pollution, global warming, internet
Manufactured risks, threatening the planet
How is science different to other belief systems?
Positive and negative effects shows that its a cognitive power
Science enables us to explain, preduct and control the world
What are the 2 belief systems?
Briefly highlight the difference
Open belief systems (science)
Closed belief systems (religion, magic)
What does Popper argue about science being an open belief system?
Why? What does Popper argue about this?
Every scientists theories are open to scrutiny by others
Key principle of science is falsification
Discarding falsified claims is what enables scientific understanding to grow
In open belief systems, knowledge is cumulative, what does this mean?
What does Popper argue about this?
Builds on the achievements of previous scientists, to develop a greater understanding of the world around us
Knowledge is not the sacred or absolute truth
What does Merton argue about open belief systems?
Explain
Science needs an ethos that makes scientists act in ways that serves the goal of increasing scientific knowledge -CUDOS
Communism- scientific knowledge should be shared with the scientific community
Universalism- falsifiablity of knowledge is to be judged universally and objectively, no bias e.g. sex
Disinterestedness- commitment to discovering knowledge, if not its harder
Organised scepticism- no knowledge is sacred
How do closed differ to open belief systems?
How are these beliefs prevented from being challenged? E.g?
Holds the absolute truth, cannot be challenged, if so>punished
‘Get out clauses’ e.g. witchcraft among the Azande
How do the Azande differ from Westerners?
How do they explain misfortune?
Do not believe in coincidence/chances
In terms of witchcraft e.g. a jealous neighbour is practicing witchcraft on me>accuse them of being a witch>’witch trials’, usually solves the problem, accused will apologise and promise there will be no further bewitching
What does Evans-Pritchard argue about witchcraft?
How (2)
Performs useful social functions -social control
Clears the air and prevents grudges
Encourages neighbours to behave considerately
*This is a closed belief system that cannot be overturned with evidence
Alternatively, how can science be seen as a closed system?
All belief systems reject fundamental challenges, this includes science e.g. mature sciences (physics, chem, bio) are based on paradigms (=set of shared assumptions)
Those who follow these paradigms are rewarded e.g. successful stem careers, nobel prizes
Challenge this>ridiculed out of the profession
How do critical perspectives (feminists and marxists) critisise the alternative view that science can be a closed system? E.g?
Its not the pure truth, it serves the interests of dominant groups (ruling class, men)
E.g. the study of gravity was driven by the development for new weaponry -capitalism
E.g. biological ideas used to justify male domination
*Science can be seen as a form of ideaology
What is ideology?
What does it usually mean if someone uses this term to describe a belief system in sociology?
Set of idea and values -belief system
They regard it as morally/factually wrong
What does ideaology do to a groups interests?
Give 3 sociological ideaological examples?
Legitimises
Marxism
Nationalism
Feminism
What produces ruling class ideology according to Marxists?
Institutions e.g. education, media, religion
Institutions are used to main control of means of production of ideas, alongside means of production
Give 3 Marxists ideaologys
Equality wont work as it goes against human nature
Victim blaming ideas about poverty -everyone hasan equal chance in life
Inferiority of ethnic group, dividing black and white workers>easier to rule
How does Marxist ideaology prevent change
Creating a false class consciousness amongst the workers
What are 3 nationalist ideaologys
Nations are real, each with its own unique characteristics
Every nation should be self governing
National loyalty and identity should come before all others e.g. religion
What do functionalists see nationalism as?
How?
A secular civil (unifying) religion
Like religion, nationalism intergrates individuals into larger, social units by making them feel part of something greater than themselves
In modern secular socities, people are more unwilling to believe in religion, but will be willing to be part of a nature
According to feminists, why is gender inequality the most important division in society?
Explain
Patriarchal ideaology:
Science- biological differences e.g. male doctors and scientists expressed the view that educating females would lead to a new race of underfemine females
Religion- women are inferior e.g. unclean due to childbirth, menstration>need to be purified
What is a criticism of feminine ideaology?
Not all religious belief systems subordinate women e.g. the viel
In hinduism, godesses have been portrayed as the creators of the universe
