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Studying the science of economics: Outline of a realist sociology of science

Hylmö, Anders LU orcid (2014) 27th Conference of the Nordic Sociological Association
Abstract
This paper discusses the prospect of a sociology of science informed by the critical realist philosophy of science. The discussion departs from the need for a theoretical framework to account for theoretical struggle and reproduction in the field of econom-ics. The recent talk about an ontological turn in science studies and the wider back-ground for such a turn is then related to the earlier turn to ontology by critical realism. It is argued that the realist philosophy gives the most reasonable account of the way science works. Informed by such a view of science, an outline of a realist sociology of science influenced by a Bourdieuan sociology of science is presented, pointing to three central aspects of science: the social or political,... (More)
This paper discusses the prospect of a sociology of science informed by the critical realist philosophy of science. The discussion departs from the need for a theoretical framework to account for theoretical struggle and reproduction in the field of econom-ics. The recent talk about an ontological turn in science studies and the wider back-ground for such a turn is then related to the earlier turn to ontology by critical realism. It is argued that the realist philosophy gives the most reasonable account of the way science works. Informed by such a view of science, an outline of a realist sociology of science influenced by a Bourdieuan sociology of science is presented, pointing to three central aspects of science: the social or political, the specific scientific habitus, and the relationship to its real object. Finally, a few implications for a sociological study of economics are noted. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
unpublished
subject
keywords
sociology of economics, science studies, sociology of science, ontological turn, critical realism
pages
24 pages
conference name
27th Conference of the Nordic Sociological Association
conference location
Sweden
conference dates
2014-08-14
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6b42b6b4-25e5-466e-8cc0-18d352d2c31f (old id 5276350)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 13:41:18
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:15:37
@misc{6b42b6b4-25e5-466e-8cc0-18d352d2c31f,
  abstract     = {{This paper discusses the prospect of a sociology of science informed by the critical realist philosophy of science. The discussion departs from the need for a theoretical framework to account for theoretical struggle and reproduction in the field of econom-ics. The recent talk about an ontological turn in science studies and the wider back-ground for such a turn is then related to the earlier turn to ontology by critical realism. It is argued that the realist philosophy gives the most reasonable account of the way science works. Informed by such a view of science, an outline of a realist sociology of science influenced by a Bourdieuan sociology of science is presented, pointing to three central aspects of science: the social or political, the specific scientific habitus, and the relationship to its real object. Finally, a few implications for a sociological study of economics are noted.}},
  author       = {{Hylmö, Anders}},
  keywords     = {{sociology of economics; science studies; sociology of science; ontological turn; critical realism}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Studying the science of economics: Outline of a realist sociology of science}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}