Aims

A sociological and anthropological analysis of knowledge and sciences.

Main themes

This course will aim to deepen the analysis of knowledge as a socio-anthropological fact, and will lead on to an analysis of techno-scientific knowledge in contemporary societies.

Content and teaching methods

The first part aims at characterising the main schools of thought in the sociology of science and technology, and positioning them in relation to philosophical or epistemological approaches.
The second part develops the dilemma of techno-scientific determinism versus social constructivism, in order to review various methods implemented by the sociologists of science and technology (including ethnographic methods).
In the third part, such methods are illustrated by concrete cases, notably in the area of societal evaluation of scientific and technological options (technology assessment).

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

The final evaluation relies on an individual paper and an oral examination.

Basic reference : Vandenduc G., La technologie, un jeu de société - Au-delà du déterminisme technologique et du constructivisme social, Academia Bruylant, collection " Sciences et enjeux", 2005

Other credits in programs