On The Relativism In Sociology Of Scientific Knowledge (SSK)

The discussion of the relativism must return to Western philosophy. In ancient Greek philosophy, the philosopher in pursuit of absolute truth as the fundamental task of philosophy, to find on the nature of the universal, the absolute knowledge, the pursuit of reason as the overriding goal. However, with the improvement of subjectivity and production of European Modern philosophy, there gradually rise to a complete set of relatively theory, the direct driving force is just the pursuit of the absolute process, which trying to remove all kinds of instability suppression against relativism. The both grow together in the struggle; constitute the spiritual power of philosophy together. While relativism failed to overturn the ruling in the philosophy of science by absolutism, but it must challenge to the absolutism again and again, although which are defeated due to the weakness of "self-refuting", but the tenacious vitality of relativism gradually made it more and more attention by philosophers.Philosophy of science born out of Western philosophy, inherited the ideas of pursuit of absolute of Western philosophy at the beginning. But it changed after logical empiricism, scientific truth as the absolute position beginning to be shaken. In Quine, Hanson and Kuhn, and, driven by Kuhn's paradigm theory in particular, relativism began to occupies an important place in the philosophy of science. The sociology of scientific knowledge also establishes its relativistic nature of research program, and makes its efforts to build a direction to get rid of self-refuting of relativism.The development Sociology of Scientific Knowledge has benefited from the development of postmodernism; it inherited the anti-scientific thought of the post-modernist, and guided by relativistic nature of the program, developed a different way of research direction, and gradually tries to find an effective way to calm the disputes of science and humanism. The relativism in sociology of scientific knowledge can not cross the event Sokal affair occurred in 1996, it has generated worldwide controversy, which made the debate between science and humanities core issue - the relativism - becoming prominent. Sokal affair far more than against academic corruption, and it put relativism of Sociology of Scientific Knowledge on research agenda.Sociology of Scientific Knowledge was born in the 70's, a "Science Studies" group represented by Barnes and Bloor first established in Edinburgh, and soon made his own research programme called strong program. Strong programme introduced the social factors into the philosophy of science research, re-established model of knowledge. Strong programme proposed four principles, through these four principles, the objective truth of scientific knowledge was developed to what with social and historical factors and expanded the range of knowledge, cancel the previous special position of scientific knowledge in knowledge, and reflects property of sociology of scientific knowledge against the extreme absolutist.Bath School Constructed from the microscopic after Edinburgh School's description in macro, and presented empirical programme of relativism. Bath School advocates research into the experiment; experience with the empirical programme of relativism shows the interests of the construction of scientific knowledge and scientific knowledge of the interests that will be given priority status in the logic of evidence. Bath school considers that through direct dialogue with scientists to reduce the association between an objective nature and knowledge, but social factors should be stressed. On Collins's opinion that the sociological interpretation of scientific knowledge is priority in the interpretation of the logical or rational. They tried to participate in the activities of scientists to constructed, so as to explain the original appearance of scientific knowledge.Relativist connotation of sociology of scientific knowledge is mainly opposed to the extreme absolutism from traditional Philosophy of Science. The sociology of scientific knowledge has experienced the change from macro the benefit analysis to microcosmic experience relativism, which precisely meets practice turning in philosophy study.With the view of scientific knowledge we can seen that, The society constructivism is based on relativism, still persist in the ontology of materialism, but denied that the reflection of the traditional science; break up the monopolization of absolute belief in the traditional philosophy of science with the social constructionist method. Sociology of scientific knowledge is with the object of scientific knowledge itself, which existence with the form as theoretical form such as scientific theory or experimental results or cultural style things, whether it is same as what Sokal said is worthy of serious study. Edinburgh school to take benefit analysis because of the social dimensions involved in the process of knowledge is constituted as a link of interest involved; the trade-off will inevitably lead to conflicts, so it must have a conflict resolution mechanism. The micro empirical studies of Bath School just to make up for the macro-defect of interests analysis, they made a negotiation mechanism to make knowledge established. This is precisely reflects the nature of truth, namely, that both recognized objective existence and the construction by subject, well reflects the dialectical and unity of Science. Sokal's criticism as some are pointless, some misunderstandings on the sociology of scientific knowledge, but it are very meaningful that he elevated the researching of relativism to a focus position.Although the relativism of Sociology of Scientific Knowledge can not avoid Self-refuting that is the relativism inherent, social construction it emphasized is conducive to breaking the Dualism, meanwhile, it will providing a platform for the equal dialogue between cultures, and consider boldly to gain knowledge by micro-study that practical vision for a new understanding of scientific knowledge, and calm the dispute Science and Humanities has great constructive significance.