Transcript STS - Anthropology Slide

Micro-studies of the Manufacturing of
Knowledge
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods | lab-society
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
Classic Anthropology
• Focus on the ‘other’
• Analysis of cultural shape, habits, objects and actions
• Asymmetric perspective: primitive versus civilized
• Science and technology
• Focus on non-western cultures
• Focus on differences and similarities
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
Modern Anthropology
• Focus on western culture as well
• Symmetric perspective
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
Science and technology studies
• Shift van S.S.K. to S.S.P
• Concept of science and technology as practice:
– feature of industrialized culture
– as specific ethnographic domain
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
WHAT HAS ANTHROPOLOGY TO OFFER TO STS?
• TOOLS:
– 1 Cultural perspective
– 2 Expertise in the study of knowledge systems
– 3 Instruments to study the material culture
• METHODS
– 1 Genre of ethnography
– 2 Participant observation
– 3 Outsiders perspective
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
TOOLS 1: CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
• Symmetric approach:
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others - ours
human - things
myths - science
western - non western
• Concept of ‘culture’ in relation to science and technology
practices
• native’s point of view
• thick description
– Clifford Geertz
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
TOOLS 2: KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS
• Definition of culture:
– “A historically developed pattern of meanings which are
expressed through symbolic forms which are used to
communicate about, to preserve and develop the knowledge
about life and the way we relate to life’ (Geertz)
• locally and historically defined
• Obduracy
Anthrop. | STS| Tools | Methods | lab-society
TOOLS 3: MATERIAL CULTURE
• Practice of usage
• Role of objects in STS
– ANT: agency
– resembles ‘object’ in primitive cultures in classical
anthropology
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
METHODS
• ’Laboratory life’ by Latour and Woolgar
• Genre of ethnography
– notion of culture
– space
• participant observation
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spectrum of activities
social structure
local historical practice
communication
• outsiders perspective
– different conceptual frame (second order concepts)
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
LABORATORY STUDIES
• Characterized by:
– direct observation of activities
– mapping of instrumental, symbolic and social environment
involved in construction of facts/artefacts
• science and technology practice are considered as
contextual practices bound to local circumstances
– facts are local
• Transfer of scientific products is problematic
• Solution
– normalize lab products
– change society to lab conditions
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
WHAT IS THE RELATION BETWEEN THE LAB
AND SOCIETY?
• TWO PERSPECTIVES:
– 1. The lab is the result of social relations (knorr-Cetina)
– 2. The lab produces society (Latour)
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
1. The lab is the result of social relations
• Karin Knorr-Cetina
• Lab is the result of social relations in society
• World outside is source of of funding, external disciplinary
contacts, symbolic, financial and social means
• Society is not controlled by science, but the lab is the
location where social conflicts are discussed and solved
• Lab itself is no active institution but a passive location
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
2. The lab produces society
• Bruno Latour: ‘give me a laboratory and I raise the world’
• Society adjust itself to the conditions of the lab
• Co-production of nature and culture
• lab transforms the chaotic world into an orderly world
• transformation in scale
• asymmetric power relation: sciences defines reality
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
2. The lab produces society
• Critique on Latour’s perspective:
– Over estimation of power of the lab
– Lab products can change dramatically outside the lab
– Boundary between lab and society is fading
• Ulrich Beck: Scientification of Society
– first stage: scientific products applied on social problems
(technological fix)
– second stage: focus of science on social problems as well as
problems caused by science itself
– Socialization of science and technology + Scientification of
society
Anthrop | STS| Tools | Methods |lab-society
METHODOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
• Extending the scope of ethnographic studies in STS
– lab is just one location of knowledge production
– shift from social construction of facts/artifacts to cultural
reconstruction of scientific products
• Developing an interdisciplinary critical cultural approach
– from anthropology to cultural studies