|
|
Re: Anthropology of Science
Allan Dunn (adunn@LCLARK.EDU)
Tue, 3 Oct 1995 18:11:18 -0700
Perhaps the institutions are sexist, but calling science, as the
systematic pursuit of knowledge, sexist sounds rediculous. I think that
trying to weed out ideas that may or may not be sexist becomes
counterproductive in the long run, because the same rational that
discards one group of ideas for another group because of what they are
percieved to be can be used against them in turn.
This is politics, as opposed to science (although one has always
determined the progress of the other, so I don't think they are unrelated).
A scientist may make a hypothesis based on a sexist bias or make an
interpretation of data that is flawed because of this bias, but his or her
colleagues are responsible for pointing out these flaws and improving the
integrity of their field of study.
Any idea whether masogynist or racist cannot stand up to any
cerious scientific scrutiny, but really take off with a good PR campaign.
AD
|