The authors explore the politics of knowledge production from "summary" of Leviathan and the Air-Pump by Steven Shapin,Simon Schaffer
In their examination of the dispute between Thomas Hobbes and Robert Boyle over the experimental and philosophical foundations of natural knowledge, Shapin and Schaffer delve into the intricate interplay between power, authority, and credibility in the production of knowledge. By meticulously dissecting the social and political dynamics surrounding the experimental demonstrations of the air-pump, they reveal how knowledge is not simply a product of objective facts, but rather a complex negotiation shaped by social context and power relations. Through their analysis of the competing claims to truth and legitimacy put forth by Hobbes and Boyle, Shapin and Schaffer illuminate the ways in which knowledge production is inherently political. They argue that the establishment of scientific facts is not solely dependent on empirical evidence, but is also deeply e...
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