MASTERS COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
THE SOCIOLOGYOF KNOWLEDGE
Answer one
question from each of the three following groups. You have 5 hours to complete the
examination. Take time to think out or
outline your answers before you begin to write them down. Be as complete as possible in your answers.
Group
I: Classical Perspectives
1. The modern sociology of knowledge and science has its roots in Marx’s proposition that it is not consciousness that determines existence; rather social existence determines consciousness. Take his concepts of mode of production, ruling ideas, class struggle (or Engles’ scattered remarks on social/economic influences on modern science) and state, with critical evaluation; what we might term the Marxist sociology of knowledge (e.g. political economy) and science.
2. As in other areas of classical sociological theory alternatives to Marxist sociology of knowledge can be found in work of Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Take either Durkheim’s approach to knowledge found especially in Elementary Forms of Religious Life OR Weber’s analysis of intellectuals, sociology of religion, rationalization and Western science or his “Science as a Vocation” and show how he departs from Marx’s analysis or where there are any similarities.
3. One
might think of knowledge as having an inherent character (as in the way
biological knowledge differs from literary knowledge); one might also think of knowledge as
distinguished by the method used to glean it (as in experience-based knowledge versus
systematic observation-based knowledge).
With this in mind, consider that according to Karl Mannheim, there is
more to “knowledge” than can be understood by identifying its inherent
character and the method of gaining knowledge.
Please carefully explain what
Group II Contemporary
1. The late Robert K. Merton made arguably the largest range of contribution to the sociology of science. Choose from either his “externalist” contributions, e.g. science, Puritanism and economy in 17th century England, science and democracy, bureaucracy and the scientist in policy-making, and /or his “internalist” contributions, e.g. the ethos of science, the reward system of scientists; state his analysis and critically evaluate it.
2. It has often been stated that the sociology of knowledge could benefit in its attempt to connect social factors with thinking by drawing upon G.H. Mead’s notions of “mind, self and society.” C Wright Mills made this explicit in his papers collected on knowledge in Power, Politics, and People, especially in his “Language Logic and Culture.” Using Mills’ analysis and your own, show how Mead’s social psychology can provide a contribution to the sociology of (scientific) knowledge.
3. The
beginning of a new sociology of science can be dated to the late Thomas F.
Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1982)
referred to by one reviewer as the most influential book ever written in the
history of science. Show how Kuhn used
his concepts, paradigm, social science, scientific revolution, etc., to
challenge and depart from the standard history of science, either progress by
accumulation or popper’s falsification.
Group III Current Perspectives and Controversies
1. Science has been challenged by a strong version of social constructionism, feminism and other insider perspectives, ethnomethodology, postmodernism, etc. Such perspectives tend to deemphasize the fact that “nature,” empirical tests, and method, constrain statements made by scientists. Taking any version of social constructionism, critically evaluate its strengths and weaknesses in its arguments against the objectivity of scientific knowledge. Do our conceptions of science need to be revised?
2. Recent surveys, E Doyle MaCarthy, Knowledge and Culture, Hess’ Science Studies: An Advanced Introduction, Yearly, Making Sense of Science, identify a number of newer sociologies of knowledge and science: the strong program of the “Edenburgh School”, The Emperical Program of Relativism, ethnomethodology and laboratory studies, feminist critiques, and Latours’ “ network analysis.” Take any one and evaluate whether or not, or in what ways it is an advance in kind or quality over classical and contemporary approaches.
3. a) An almost cursory reading of the popular press reveals in the U.S. the politicization of the report of the Union of Concerned Scientists, commercialization (medical research, FDA) and attacks on science in the culture wars (“ intelligent design” vs Darwinian theory of evolution, and even scientific fraud. Drawing on classical and contemporary theories. pick the one or several theories that provide the most insight into these developments.
OR
3. b) Thinking of the press as the source of
everyday views of reality, true and false, or provide a sociology of knowledge
analysis of the