Science as a Political Agent

Occupation: Main Research Fellow, Head of Department; Head of the Chair of philosophy
Affiliation:
Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences
Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod
Address: Russian Federation, Nizhni Novgorod

Journal name

Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya

Edition

Issue 7

Pages

3-14

Abstract

The answer to the question of science as a political agent intends to show how philosophy of science and technology intersects with political philosophy, and science and technology studies (STS) intervene into the public discourse agenda on the nature of modernity and post-modernity, the prospects of civilization, the role of scientific and technological development, the growing influence of the media. The main feature of modernity is that science and technology define points of growth in all areas of public life. However, the question arises: does this make science a political agent? Were there any such precedents at all? And what is political agency in terms of science? Is there a place for political agency in the mission of the scientist? The analysis of the problem begins with the clarification of its meaning: either we mean political power or the power of knowledge? Further, the forms of implementation of this agency in theoretical and practical activity of scientists are traced. Thus, the article proposes the general theoretical solution to this problem as well as its illustration in scientists' participation by the resolution of socially significant problems.

Keywords

Francis Bacon, scientific method, social institute of science, legitimization of science, post-truth, political agency of science

Acknowledgment

The research is performed within the grant of Russian Science Foundation, No. 19-18-00494 “The Mission of a Scientist in the Modern World: Science as a Profession and a Vocation”.

Received

17.04.2020

Publication date

01.08.2020

Number of characters

41768

Cite

GOST	Kasavin I. Science as a Political Agent // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2020. – Issue 7 C. 3-14 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250009293-5-1-en (circulation date: 24.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250009293-5
MLA	Kasavin, Ilya "Science as a Political Agent." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 7 (2020):3-14. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250009293-5
APA	Kasavin I. (2020). Science as a Political Agent. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (7), pp.3-14 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250009293-5

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