An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies

Abstract

Science & Technology Studies (STS) is a dynamic interdisciplinary field, rapidly becoming established in North America and Europe. The field is a result of the intersection of work by sociologists, historians, philosophers, anthro- pologists, and others studying the processes and outcomes of science, including medical science, and technology. Because it is interdisciplinary, the field is extraordinarily diverse and innovative in its approaches. Because it examines science and technology, its findings and debates have repercussions for almost every understanding of the modern world. This book surveys a group of terrains central to the field, terrains that a beginner in STS should know something about before moving on. For the most part, these are subjects that have been particularly productive in theoretical terms, even while other subjects may be of more immediate practical interest. The emphases of the book could have been different, but they could not have been very different while still being an introduction to central topics in STS. An Introduction to Science and Technology Studies should provide an overview of the field for any interested reader not too familiar with STSs basic findings and ideas. The