ISIS: Journal of the History of Science in Society
Vol. 101, Issue 4, Pages 759-774
December 2010
Abstract
The boundaries between the history of science and science and technology
studies (STS) can be misleadingly drawn, to the detriment of both
fields. This essay stresses their commonalities and potential for
valuable synergy. The evolution of the two fields has been
characterized by lively interchange and boundary crossing, with leading
scholars functioning easily on both sides of the past/present divide.
Disciplines, it is argued, are best regarded as training grounds for
asking particular kinds of questions, using particular clusters of
methods. Viewed in this way, history of science and STS are notable for
their shared approaches to disciplining. The essay concludes with a
concrete example-- regulatory science--showing how a topic such as this
can be productively studied with methods that contradict any alleged
disciplinary divide between historical and contemporary studies of
science.
Citation
Dear, Peter, and Sheila Jasanoff. "Dismantling Boundaries in Science and Technology Studies." ISIS: Journal of the History of Science in Society 101.4 (December 2010): 759-774.