THE NEW SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE

The new sociology of knowledge examines how kinds of social organizati on make whole orderings of knowledge possible, rather than focussing o n the differing social locations and interests of individuals or group s. The review begins with the effects on knowledge of the media throug h which it is preserved, organized, and transmitted. We then analyze c ollective memory, examining social conditions that shape how knowledge is transmitted through time. The review then examines how patterns of authority located in organizations shape both the content and structu re of knowledge, looking at how authority affects the scope, generalit y, and authoritativeness of knowledge. We then review recent work on h ow social power, particularly that embodied in institutional practices , shapes knowledge. We examine how knowledge reinforces social hierarc hies and how the boundaries and categories of systems of knowledge are constituted. Looking at power, gender, and knowledge, we discuss new versions of the standpoint theories that characterized the traditional sociology of knowledge. Finally, we briefly review recent work on inf ormal knowledge.