Scientific practice and ordinary action : ethnomethodology and social studies of science

Philosophers, historians, and sociologists of science have grown interested in the daily practices of scientists. Recent studies have drawn linkages between scientific innovations and more ordinary procedures, craft skills, and sources of sponsorship. These studies dispute the idea that science is the application of a unified method or the outgrowth of a progressive history of ideas. This book critically reviews arguments and empirical studies in two areas of sociology that have played a significant role in the 'sociological turn' in science studies: ethnomethodology (the study of ordinary practical reasoning) and the sociology of scientific knowledge. In both fields, efforts to study scientific practices have led to intractable difficulties and debates, due in part to scientistic and foundationalist commitments that remain entrenched with social-scientific research policies and descriptive language. The central purpose of this book is to explore the possibility of an empirical approach to the epistemic contents of science that avoids the pitfalls of scientism and foundationalism. Philosophers, Historians, And Sociologists Of Science Have Grown Increasingly Interested In The Day-to-day Practices Of Scientists. Recent Studies Have Drawn Numerous Linkages Between Scientific Innovations And More Ordinary Procedures, Craft Skills, And Sources Of Sponsorship. These Studies Dispute The Idea That Science Is The Application Of A Unified Method Or The Outgrowth Of A Progressive History Of Ideas. This Book Critically Reviews Arguments And Empirical Studies In Two Areas Of Sociology That Have Played A Significant Role In The Sociological Turn In Science Studies: Ethnomethodology (the Study Of Ordinary Practical Reasoning) And The Sociology Of Scientific Knowledge. In Both Fields, Efforts To Study Scientific Practices Have Led To Intractable Difficulties And Interminable Debates, Due In Part To Scientistic And Foundationalist Commitments That Remain Entrenched With Social-scientific Research Policies And Descriptive Language. The Central Purpose Of This Book Is To Explore The Possibility Of An Empirical Approach To The Epistemic Contents Of Science That Avoids The Pitfalls Of Scientism And Foundationalism. Ethnomethodology -- The Demise Of The Old Sociology Of Science -- The Rise Of The New Sociology Of Scientific Knowledge -- Phenomenology And Protoethnomethodology -- Wittgenstein, Rules, And Epistemology's Topics -- Molecular Sociology -- From Quiddity To Haecceity: Ethnomethodological Studies Of Work. Michael Lynch. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.

Philosophers, historians, and sociologists of science have grown increasingly interested in the daily practices of scientists. Recent studies have drawn linkages between scientific innovations and more ordinary procedures, craft skills, and sources of sponsorship. These studies dispute the idea that science is the application of a unified method or the outgrowth of a progressive history of ideas. The central purpose of this book is to explore the possibility of an empirical approach to the epistemic contents of science that avoids the pitfalls of scientism and foundationalism.

Philosophers, historians, and sociologists of science have grown interested in the daily practices of scientists. Studies have drawn linkages between scientific innovations and more ordinary procedures, craft skills, and sources of sponsorship. This book disputes the idea that science is the application of a unified method or the outgrowth of a progressive history of ideas. Introduction 1. Ethnomethodology 2. The demise of the 'old' sociology of science 3. The rise of the new sociology of scientific knowledge 4. Phenomenology and protoethnomethodology 5. Wittgenstein, rules, and epistemology's topic 6. Molecular sociology 7. From quiddity to haecceity: ethnomethodological studies of work Conclusion Recent studies have drawn links between scientific innovations and more ordinary procedures, thus disputing the idea that science is the application of a unified method. This book offers a review of the arguments for and against this position Ethnomethodology can be describe briefly as a way to investigate the genealogical relationship between social practices and accounts of those practices.