Science and Technology in Society: From Biotechnology to the Internet (Key Themes in Sociology)

This thoughtful and engaging text challenges the widely held notion of science as somehow outside of society, and the idea that technology proceeds automatically down a singular and inevitable path. Through specific case studies involving contemporary debates, this book shows that science and technology are fundamentally part of society and are shaped by it. Draws on concepts from political sociology, organizational analysis, and contemporary social theory. Avoids dense theoretical debate. Includes case studies and concluding chapter summaries for students and scholars. This Text Challenges The Widely Held Notion Of Science As Somehow Outside Of Society, And The Idea That Technology Proceeds Automatically Down A Singular And Inevitable Path. Through Specific Case Studies Involving Contemporary Debates, This Book Shows That Science And Technology Are Fundamentally Part Of Society And Are Shaped By It. Drawing On Concepts From Political Sociology, Organizational Analysis, And Contemporary Social Theory, This Book Is A First-rate Study Of Technoscience That Places Power, Stratification, And Discourse At Its Center. The Author Shows How Actors (typically Social Groups Or Organizations) In Powerful Positions Shape Developments In Technoscience In Significant Ways, And How New Developments Affect People Differently Depending On Class, Race, Gender, And Geographical Location.--jacket. Science Is Political/ Technology Is Social: Concerns, Concepts, And Questions -- Ceding Debate: Biotechnology And Agriculture -- Rethinking Information Technology: Caught In The World Wide Web -- Owning Technoscience: Understanding The New Intellectual Property Battles -- Technoscience In The Third World: The Politics Of Indigenous Resources -- Gender And The Ideology Of Merit: Women, Men, Science, And Engineering -- Democracy And Expertise: Citizenship In A High Tech Age -- Confronting The Problem: A Summary And Coda. Daniel Lee Kleinman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [128]-138) And Index. Daniel Kleinman challenges the widely-held notion of science as somehow outside of society and the idea that technology proceeds automatically down a singular and inevitable path. He demonstrates that science and technology are fundamentally part of society and are shaped by it