Science, Technology, and Society: A Sociological Approach

by Wenda K. Bauchspies, Jennifer Croissant, Sal Restivo

Overview

Science, Technology and Society: A Sociological Approach is a comprehensive guide to the emergent field of science, technology, and society (STS) studies and its implications for today’s culture and society.

• Discusses current STS topics, research tools, and theories
  
• Tackles some of the most urgent issues in current STS studies, including power and culture, race, gender, colonialism, the Internet, cyborgs and robots, and biotechnology
  
• Includes case studies, a glossary, and further reading lists

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780631232094
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/26/2005
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	7.87(w) x 9.84(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Wenda K. Bauchspies is Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society and Women’s Studies in the STS Program at Pennsylvania State University.

Jennifer Croissant is Associate Professor in the Department of Women’s Studies at the University of Arizona.

Sal Restivo is Professor of Sociology and Science Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is co-editor of Math Worlds: Philosophical and Social Studies of Mathematics (1992) and author of Science, Society, and Values: Toward a Sociology of Objectivity (1994).

Table of Contents

PrefaceP.

Introduction Introduction.

Our Premises and Our Approach / Nuts and Bolts and the Systems that Tighten Them / Conclusion.

2 Cultures of Science.

Birth of a Fact / Society and Culture / Worldviews / The Social Construction Conjecture / Feminism and Science Studies / Technology in Motion / Pre-Scientific: You Or Me? / Mind and Society / What Can Sociologists Say About Mathematics? / Conclusion.

3 The Dance of Truth.

Science and Technology as Social Institutions / The Dance of Magic, Science, and Religion / What Is Truth? / Dangerous Icons: From Magic and Religion to Science and Law / Conclusion.

4 STS and Power in the Postmodern World.

Technology and Society / Power, Values, and Agency / Cyborgs, Humans, and Technology / Contemporary Society: Globalization Or Bust? / Metaphors, Narratives, and Glocal Cultures / Conclusion: Technoscience and Globalizations.

5 Life after Science and Technology Studies.

Technoscience Revisited / Case Study: the New Reproductive Technologies / Case Study: Robots, Minds, and Society / Frontiers and Horizons / Conclusion: Where We Have to Stand in Order to Begin.

Glossary.

References.

Name Index.

Subject Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“In clear and understandable language, this introduction to STS brings home the point that science and technology are social constructions by human communities. Its applications range from science’s border with religion, to cyborgs, robots, and new reproductive technologies. Students will quickly turn on to what STS is all about.” Randall Collins, University of Pennsylvania

“Amidst the science wars this book reads as a peace treaty: skillfully navigating between the sirens of absolutism and relativism, the authors lead the reader into the land of technoscience." Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

“…recommend[ed] for its robust and engaging argument, political concerns and ambitions, and challenge to readers to explore their own beliefs and experiment with new visions.”
ISIS

Editorial Reviews

In clear and understandable language, this introduction to STS brings home the point that science and technology are social constructions by human communities. Its applications range from science’s border with religion, to cyborgs, robots, and new reproductive technologies. Students will quickly turn on to what STS is all about.” Randall Collins, University of Pennsylvania

“Amidst the science wars this book reads as a peace treaty: skillfully navigating between the sirens of absolutism and relativism, the authors lead the reader into the land of technoscience." Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

“…recommend[ed] for its robust and engaging argument, political concerns and ambitions, and challenge to readers to explore their own beliefs and experiment with new visions.”
ISIS

From the Publisher