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Questioning science: how knowledge is socially constructed

N Thorogood1

  • 1Unit of Dental Public Health, UMDS, London.

British Dental Journal
|October 7, 1997
PubMed
Summary
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Science offers explanations, not absolute truth. Scientific knowledge and research are human constructs, influenced by social factors, challenging the notion of pure objectivity, particularly in fields like dentistry.

Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Sociology of Knowledge

Background:

  • Scientific knowledge is often perceived as objective truth.
  • The concept of scientific objectivity is deeply ingrained in many disciplines, including dentistry.
  • The social and human elements in knowledge production are frequently overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the notion of science as a discoverer of absolute truth.
  • To highlight that scientific knowledge is a human construct, shaped by social forces.
  • To reveal the implicit values and processes within scientific research, particularly in dentistry.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of the concept of science.
  • Sociological examination of knowledge production.
  • Critical review of the taken-for-granted assumptions in scientific research.

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Main Results:

  • Science functions as one explanatory framework among potentially many.
  • Scientific facts are not discovered but are produced by people within social contexts.
  • Scientific research is influenced by social forces and cannot be entirely epistemologically separate or objective.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional view of scientific objectivity requires critical re-evaluation.
  • Understanding scientific research as a social process is crucial for a more nuanced understanding of knowledge.
  • Recognizing the social construction of scientific knowledge can inform research practices and interpretations, especially in specialized fields like dentistry.