ideology and science Flashcards
Popper- science as an open belief system
every theory is open to scrutiny, and testing by others. Also use falsification- set out to try and falsify existing theories, trying to disprove them.
Merton- the protestant reformation
this belief system seemed to study nature so they could appreciate gods work, this lead to them doing experiments, they also liked that science could improve peoples lives.
Merton CUDO norms
Communism- scientists share their knowledge with others
Universalism- theories are checked by objective criteria, nothing to do with race or gender
Disinterestedness- discovering knowledge for its own sake, not being a fraud
Organised scepticism- every idea is open to questioning
Evans Pritchard- witchcraft among the Azande
When something happens to a member they blame witchcraft, someone who is jealous or angry at them, these a witch doctor who gives a potion to a chicken, if the chicken dies then the attacked party can publicly blame the person they blame, the blamed apologies, the people believe the witchcraft cant be controlled and therefore accept the apology. This has many functions, stops grudges festering and means neighbours act kindly so they don’t get accused. this reinforces social control.
Kuhn- paradigms
set shared of assumptions = paradigm. paradigm tells scientists what reality is like, what problems to study and what methods to use. All scientists are made to believe and agree with these paradigms those who break it are ridiculed, but does show its not an open belief system.
Dr. Velikovsky
put a new theory on the origins of the earth, he was ridiculed, not tested and ignored completely by scientists- shows its not open or falsification.
Woolgar- little green men
they found an unknown thing, they called them little green men, they saw this was wrong so changed their answer and said it was a type of sat unknown to science, showing how science is socially constructed they had to change to fit in with the norms of the science world.
Gramsci- hegemony and revolution (Marxist)
Ruiling class ideological domination of society as hegemony. Workers have a dual consciousness- mixture of ruling class ideology and ideas they develop from their own experience of exploitation. This means w/c could create a class consciousness and overthrow the gov, they need a party with organic intellectuals.
Marx
Nationalism is simply a form of false consciousness.
Gellner- nationalism and modernity
Pre industrial society was kept together not by nationalism but by face to face relationships in small scale communities. Modern society- large scale impersonal societies with complex division of labour, administered by vast bureaucracies and citizens are relatively equal status.
Need some stranger communication so use schools to create a shared culture and nationalism, so people can talk to strangers.
Mannheim - ideology and utopia - two types of belief systems
Ideological thought- keep things as they are, position and interest of privileged groups, these groups benefit from keeping the status quo, belief system will be hierarchy and conservative.
Utopian thought- social change, underprivileged, vision of how society could be.
Mannheim- free floating intelligentsia
detach the intellectuals from the social groups they represent and create a non aligned, standing above the conflict, create a total worldview, a mix of utopia and ideology.
Marks - feminism
science used to oppress women, said educating them would stop them from their calling of caring for children and being housewives.
