Ideology and Science

Question 1

Popper

Answer 1

Science open belief/falsificationism - science is an open system because it should and must be open to criticism in order for scientific knowledge to grow.

Question 2

Merton

Answer 2

Science open belief system/CUDOS norms - science is an open system, must follow the CUDOS norms to ensure scientific knowledge can grow.

Question 3

Horton

Answer 3

Open/closed belief system - religion is a closed system, science is an open one - religion has get out clauses when faced with contradictory evidence.

Question 4

Evans-Pritchard

Answer 4

Religion closed belief system/Witchcraft in the Azande - shows how this tribe do not allow any contradictions to their belief system demonstrating how religion is a closed system

Question 5

Polanyi

Answer 5

Religion closed system - argues belief systems have three devices to sustain themselves when faced with contradictory evidence: circularity, subsidiary explanations, denial of legitimacy to rivals.

Question 6

Kuhn

Answer 6

Science is a closed system/paradigms - Argues science acts within a specific framework/paradigm and when the paradigm is challenges, scientific theories are not accepted e.g. Dr Velikovsky

Question 7

Woolgar/Knoor Cetina

Answer 7

Scientific knowledge is socially constructed - scientific knowledge is not factual it is socially constructed, it will be disregarded or adapted if it doesn’t fit in with the paradigm, e.g. Little Green Men

Question 8

Marxism

Answer 8

Ideology and Hegemony - ideology is used to benefit the capitalist class, spread their ideas such as inequality is fair.

Question 9

Nationalism

Answer 9

Ideology should promote nationalism whereby nations are real distinctive communities - Marxists argue this is a false class consciousness that helps prevent the overthrow of capitalism as it makes everyone believe we are all the same (rich and poor) - functionalists argue this promotes civil religion and makes us feel part of something greater than ourselves.

Question 10

Manheim

Answer 10

Ideology and utopia - distinguishes between ideological thought and utopian thought, utopian thought justifies social change whereas ideological thought justifies keeping things as they are; people (intellectuals) will attach themselves to a group and represent the views of that group not society as a whole which therefore causes conflict.