Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Mapping socio-scientific controversies.

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

Main aim of this module is to introduce student into mapping of socio-scientific controversies, and social fears. The point of departure of module are science and technology studies (STS). In our contemporary society scientific and technological development raises social and political concerns. Some of those concerns are intertwined with a an role of a science in science. Disccusiona about socio-scientific controversies are very often are often at an impasse - on the one hand, we have the anti-irrational criticism, which is expressed by arousing scepticism about the sciences and technology, on the other hand, there is reductionist scientism, which perceives science and technology in a seamless mode. Moreover, fears and doubts have become weapons in political disputes, a way of building economic advantage and creating cultural hegemony. As a result, in module will be presented the third way, arguing that either far reaching critique of science or positivistic technocratic approach are not sufficient to deal with nowadays challenges. In a course science will be presented not as something theory-based (as traditional philosophy of science tended to do), but rather practice-based, namely, something that is constructed, created, tinkered. With such a process-oriented and practice-focused approach to technology and science, we will follow its functioning "in the wild", i.e. in the circulation of scientific facts in the social world and their role in stabilizing and destabilizing the social, cultural and political.In addition to the main objective, the module wants to achieve the following sub-aims:First sub-aim of this module is to explore a global difference of production of knowledge and scientific and social controversies. The examples of latters are anti-vaccination movements, ADHD, AIDS, global warming, shale gas, GMO and polish “War with gender” debate.Second sub-aim It will trace the specific political economy of irrationalism, fears and doubts and map the infrastructure used to spread them. To this end, we will focus on analysing the Internet for social and scientific communication and political, ideological, non-scientific ways of shaping social controversies

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Syllabus

SYLLABUS:Week 1: Introduction: Fear, Uncertanity and DoubtsWeek 2: Mapping of socio-scientific controversies - introduction Week 3: Mapping of socio-scientific controversies: knowledge asymmetries: lay people, experts and mediaWeek 4: Mapping of socio-scientific controversies: global knowledge asymmetriesWeek 5: Tools: Circulatory model of scientific practices Week 6: Case study: Antivaccination movementWeek 7: Case study: Biopolitcs, science and social activism: case of AIDSWeek 8: Case study: Climate and merchant of doubtsWeek 9: Case study: Self tracking and auto medicalisation – body in technoscientific practisesWeek 10: Case study: knowledge infrastrutures of right movements - “war on genderWeek 11: Workshop - practical mapping of controversies selected by participantsWeek 12: Workshop - practical mapping of controversies selected by participantsWeek 13: Workshop - practical mapping of controversies selected by participantsWeek 14: Workshop - practical mapping of controversies selected by participantsWeek 15: Reshaping public sphere through mapping of socio-scientific controversies

Reading list