Original scientific paper
Internalism of Rational Methodologies and Socio-external History of Science: Arguments for the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge
Davorka Matić
; Odsjek za sociologiju, Filozofski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu
Abstract
This article treats one of the key problems of modern sociology of knowledge - the legitimacy and scope of the sociological explanation for the cognitive content of science. Rationalist tradition promotes an explanatory division of labor between philosophy and sociology according to which the “internal", “cognitive” side of science belongs exclusively to the area of philosophical investigation. In this scheme, sociology deals only with the “external”, social commponent of science. Opposing this view, the article argues against the artificial separation of “external” and “internal” components of science and defends the thesis according to which these two sides of science are interconnected and mutually supportive in a way that makes any attempt at a purely rational, internalist explanation of scientific development deeply flawed. Historiographical and sociological investigations of numerous episodes from the history of science clearly demonstrates the inadequacy of the internalist approach and supports the need for and legitimacy of a sociological explanation. Instead of idealized and stereotyped versions of science as straightforward and true knowledge, this explanation offers a picture of science as a collective intellectual enterprise in which social actors, on the basis of their preoccupations, goals, interests and cultural values, determine what is true knowledge and the proper method for reaching the “truth ”.
Keywords
internalism; rationalism; sociology of knowledge; science
Hrčak ID:
154409
URI
Publication date:
30.6.1999.
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