Sociology (Book Two)- Topic 7

Ideology and Science

• Belief System - A set of mutually supportive beliefs
• Knowledge Claim - Something that an individual believes to be true and is open to discussion and debate 
• The widespread 'faith in science' growth has been stimulated by previous investigations where the topic is easily/or has been easy to develop and correct --> Predecessors succeeding in their research
• Science can be open to opinion and may cause problems to those inaccurate information that someone may believe
• Cognitive Power - Having the ability to obtain/have the knowledge of something related to a specific topic
• Popper (1959) - Created the idea of an 'Open Belief System' where every belief is abled to be tested and analysed to see if it's applicable to certain situations
• Science became attractive to the puritans when they became interested at how God created the world. They used experiments that drove their interests beyond normal

Merton (1973; 2007) 'CUDOS'

• Communism - Scientific knowledge is not private property it must be shared, otherwise knowledge cannot grow
• Universalims - Scientific knowledge has to be analysed and checked by others, in order to test its reliability
• Disinterestedness - The commitment to actually find appropriate scientific knowledge 
• Organised Scepticism - Every idea is open to questioning, criticism and objective investigation
• These ideas have a goal to increase scientific knowledge

Horton (1973) - Closed belief system is knowledge/beliefs that cannot be modified. (e.g. The divine principle of God)

Polanyi (1958) - 3 devices to sustain themselves in the face of apparent contradictions

• Circularity- Each idea is explained based on the idea within the belief system
• Subsidiary explanations- (Back-up) answers that addresses the contradiction
• Denial of legitimacy to rivals- Legitimacy is refused by 'world' views

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