Shapin and Schaffer analyze the social dynamics of knowledge production from "summary" of Leviathan and the Air-Pump by Steven Shapin,Simon Schaffer
In the study of the social dynamics of knowledge production, Shapin and Schaffer delve into the intricate relationships between scientists, their experiments, and the broader social context in which knowledge is created. They argue that scientific knowledge is not solely the result of individual genius or objective observation, but rather emerges through a complex interplay of social, political, and cultural influences. By examining the case of Robert Boyle and Thomas Hobbes in the seventeenth century, Shapin and Schaffer demonstrate how scientific knowledge is shaped by power dynamics, social hierarchies, and competing ideologies. Boyle's experimental approach to natural philosophy, as exemplified in his air-pump experiments, was not just a matter of objective inquiry, but also a means of asserting his authority and challenging the p...
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