Ideology and Science Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What is a belief system?

A

A set of ideas with different sources that can be classfied as religious, philosophical or ideological that influence individuals/social systems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is science? (4)

A

There are no universal definitions, instead there are characteristics.
Objectivity
Unbiased
Empiricla evidence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How have developments in scientific beliefs helped individuals in society? (4)

A

Fertility
Medicine
Hygiene
Education.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are examples of problems caused by developments in science? (4)

A

Global warming
Pollution
Animal/human testing
Weapons of mass destruction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What did Beck argue? (2)

A

We are living in a risk society and people have created problems without knowing.
Universal risks: we can’t escape them and they are global regardless of your background.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is science different from religion? (3)

A

Religion has a monopoly of truth and science doesn’t.
Religion is a closed belief system and science is open.
Religion isn’t open to questioning but science is.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does Popper argue and what is an example? (3)

A

Science is open to the principle of flasification where scientists falsify their hypothesis and try to prove it wrong.
Science is not an absolute truth but it can be tested and questioned.
E.G: Used to have 9 planets but Pluto is now a dwarf planet.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does Merton argue? (6)

A

Science has a set of norms know as CUDOS.
Communism
Universalism
Disinterestedness
Organised
Sceptism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Is religion open or closed?

A

It is closed as it is not open to question and claims to be perfect.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How can science as an open belief system be criticised? (4)

A

Polyani argues that it is closed and it has 3 mechanisms to sustain their beliefs.
Circularity: Each ideas in a system is explained in terms of another idea and so on.
Subsidiary Explanations: secondary explanations like prayers not being answered because individuals haven’t been praying correctly.
Denial of legitmacy to rivals: reject alternative world views by refusing to grant them any legitmacy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does Kuhn argue? (3)

A

Scientists have paradigms which is a shared way of thinking.
They reject fundamentalist challenges to their beliefs.
There are paradigm shifts which is where there is a major change om how people think which changes the paradigm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What contemporary example relates to Kuhn?

A

In the beginning, people didn’t want to believe that the Astrazeneca vaccine was dangerous so they got shut out. Denial of legitimacy of rivals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How do Interpretivists criticse science? (2)

A

They believe that all scientific knowledge is socially constructed and it is created by social groups using the resources available to them.
It is subjective and they just have to get their colleagues to believe them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are theoretical criticisms of science? (2)

A

Marxists and Feminists see scientific knowledge as far from the truth as it serves the interest of big businesses and men.
Postmodernists reject the knowledge claims of science as the truth as science is a metanarrative that can dominate people’s thinking.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is ideology?

A

A system of ideas and ideals, which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What did Neo-Marxist Gramsci argue? (3)

A

Workers have dual consciousness.
They can develop class consciousness and overthrow the ruling class (counter hegemony)
But it is argued that a fear of unemployment keeps workers working.

17
Q

What did Mannheim argue? (3)

A

There are two broad types of belief or worldview.
Ideological thought: justifies keeping things as they are. It reflects the position and interests of privileged groups like the capitalist class. (patriarchy, new right)
Utopian thought: justifies social change and it reflects the position of the underprivileged and offers a vision of how society could be organised differently. (communism, neo-marxism)

18
Q

What is a free-floating intelligentsia?

A

Where intellectuals detach from their social groups and they are freed from represnting a specific group.

19
Q

How does Marxism and Nationalism relate? (2)

A

Nationalism is a form of flase class consciousness because if everyone is fighting with each other they will be more focused on their nation.
Nationalism encourages workers to believe that they have more in common with the capitalists of their own country than with workers of their own country.

20
Q

What does Gellner argue?

A

Sees nationalism as flase consciousness as its claim to have existed since time began is untrue.

21
Q

What are strengths of Nationalism? (4)

A

Brings people together creating social solidarity and collective conscience.
Inspires patriotism, promoting culture and tradition.
Maintains sovereignty and self-governing.
Inclusive ideas that unites everyone regardless of differences.

22
Q

What are criticisms of Nationalism? (4)

A

May cause conflict like Hindu Ultra-nationalism.
Sinicisation: refers to Xi’s efforts to transform religious ideas to reflect Chines culture and society.
Glocalisation: conflict in other countries can effect us in the UK.
Protectionism: everyday people suffer because goods prices have been raised.

23
Q

How can science be seen serving patriarchal ideology? (2)

A

Crasnow et al: when women enter science the patriarchal ideology adjusts to say it is gender neautral so when women fail to climb the scientific hierarchy there are sex-linked differences.
Terry: Male doctors percieved post-natal depression as an individual mental illness or ignored its existence. They subscribe to a patriarchal ideology that being a mother is a woman’s central role so they don’t acknowledge PND.