Ideology and science Flashcards
(20 cards)
What does Popper believe about science as a belief system?
Science is an open belief system where each scientists belief is open to criticism and testing
-Science is governed by the principle of falsificationism; knowledge grows when we attempt to falsify existing theories
-If contradictory evidence is found the theory is discarded to fine better info
Why does Popper argue that scientific knowledge is cumulative?
Scientific knowledge builds on the achievements and findings of past scientists to gain deeper understanding of the world around us
Why does Popper argue that scientific knowledge has no absolute truth?
It can always be questioned, criticised and tested and sometimes proven to be false
What does Merton believe about science
-Science is an organised social activity that has a set of norms
-Science is based on a set of norms and values (CUDOS) that encourage openness and objectivity in pursuit of knowledge
What are the CUDOS norms
Set of norms and values that encourage growth of knowledge
C-communism; knowledge must be shared with all of the scientific community
U-Universalism; scientific knowledge must be assessed as true of false using universal, objective criteria
D-Disintrestedness; carry our research in order to discover truth, not personal gain/fame
OS-Organised Skepticism; every idea should be open to questioning/criticism
What does Horton say about closed belief systems?
He sees science as an open belief system but sees religion as closed
-Religion has ‘get out clauses’ that prevent it from being disproved by its believers
How can the Witchcraft in the Azande support the idea that religion is a closed belief system?
-they do not believ in misfortune and believe someone is performing witchraft on them
-Use benge oracle and a chicken to test this
-This religious method cannot be falsified; e.g if chicken dies before diviner address it, this doesnt mean test is not accurate but just that the benge wasnt good
How does Witchcraft in the Azande perform social functions?
Evans-Pritchard argues that:
* it prevents grudges from festering
* Thus acts as a social control mechanism
* Encorurages children to keep their parents in line as an accusation affects childs reputation
What does Polyani argue about belief systems?
All belief systems have three devices to sustain themselves in the face of contradictory arguements
-Circularity; each idea in the system is explained using another idea
Subsidary explanations;Using other explanations to explain gaps in belief e.g ‘incorrect use of benge’
-denial of legitimacy to rivals; Completely rejecting other arguements
What does Kuhn argue about science?
Science is based on a paradigm that all members of the discipline must follow to be rewarded
-He argues if the paradigm is challenged will be ridiculed unless it occurs during period of scientific revolutions
GIve an example of how science can be seen as a closed belief system?
Semmelweis- Argued that high infant mortality rates were due to inadequate sanitation of doctors who were going straight from autopsies to delivering babies, His ideas were rejected although he had clear evidence. was later placed in mental institution
DR Velikovsky- he has a new theory of the origins of the earth and put out a book about it, scientists rushed to remove this book and some who supported Velikovsky lost their jobs
What do interpritevists sociologists believe about scientific knowledge
-It is socially constructed based off of what scientists think they should expect to see according to their paradigm
Woolgar uses the examples of LGM1 and LGM2 to show how scientists alter information in a way that convinvces others to accept it
How do Marxists, Feminists and Postmodernists see science?
Marxists and feminists argue it serve the needs of dominant groups e.g r/c and men
-Postmodernists (Lyotard) see science as simply a metanarrative that claims to have absolute truth
What is an ideology?
A worldview/ set of ideas and values
-These ideas can sometimes be distorted, conceal interests of a particular group
What do Marxist believe about ideology?
The ruling class controls the means of production of ideas through the education system, media and religion
-They use this to justify the status-quo through victim blaming and myth of meritocracy which legitimises capitalism
What does Hramsci believe about marxism and Ideology
We can evantually overthrow capitalism as we have a dual consciousness
-We need organic intellecuals to help the w/c overthrow the ruling class ideology and control
What is nationalism?
a political ideology that believes nations are real distinctive communities with their own characteristics
What is the marxist and functionalist view of nationalism
Marxist-Nationalism is a false consciousness that prevents the overthrowing of capitalism by dividing the international working class
Functionalist- a secular civil religion that integrates everyone into a single community regardless of religion/class.
-this may be done through education system e.g learning of a nations history
How does Gellner see nationalism?
A key feature of modernity thst imposes a single national culture on individuals allowing communication and economic coorperation between members
-This is a result of modernity where there is a complex division of labour
-It is also used to motivate the population to endure the hardships of industrialisation
How do feminists see ideology?
ideology is used to legitimise gender inequality
e.g religious ideologies may exclude women from particupation due to beliefs of them being impure due to menstration
