STALKING THEORETICAL PHYSICISTS - AN ETHNOGRAPHY FLOUNDERS - A RESPONSE TO MERZ AND KNORR-CETINA

Authors
GALE G PINNICK CL
Citation
G. Gale et Cl. Pinnick, STALKING THEORETICAL PHYSICISTS - AN ETHNOGRAPHY FLOUNDERS - A RESPONSE TO MERZ AND KNORR-CETINA, Social studies of science, 27(1), 1997, pp. 113-123
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
History & Philosophy of Sciences","History & Philosophy of Sciences","History & Philosophy of Sciences
Journal title
Social studies of science → ACNP
ISSN journal
03063127
Volume
27
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
113 - 123
Database
ISI
SICI code
0306-3127(1997)27:1<113:STP-AE>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
We believe that Merz and Knorr Cetina, in extending the methodology of lab studies into the domain of theoretical physics, have overextended its legitimate application. We argue that they adopt three distinct ' languages', but do not clarify their relative epistemic status. As a r esult, they demonstrate an implicit realist metaphysics, and reveal in trinsic limitations of their methodology.