The Knowledge Book

by Steve Fuller

"The Knowledge Book" is a unique interdisciplinary reference work for students and researchers concerned with the nature of knowledge. It is the first work of its kind to be organized on the assumption that whatever else knowledge might be, it is intrinsically social. The book consists of 42 alphabetically arranged entries on key concepts at the intersection of philosophy and sociology - what used to be called "sociology of knowledge" but is now increasingly called "social epistemology". The entries include concepts common to disciplines that in recent years have devoted more of their attention to knowledge: cultural studies, communication studies, information science, education, policy studies and business studies. Special attention is given to concepts from the emerging field of science and technology studies. Each entry presents a short, self-contained essay providing an overview of a concept and concludes with suggestions for further reading. All the entries are fully cross-referenced, allowing readers to both make connections and follow their own interests.

"A lively and engaging book that provides sharp and insightful overviews of some of the most important concepts and terms on the cultural and philosophical aspects of knowledge. An essential reference." - Gerard Delanty, Professor of Sociology, University of Liverpool "... fun to read, informative and endlessly provocative. Invaluable to the newcomer to these fields and useful to the specialist." - Stephen Turner, Professor of Philosophy, University of South Florida"

Steve Fuller is Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick and founding editor of the journal, Social Epistemology. His recent books include Thomas Kuhn (2000), The Philosophy of Science and Technology Studies (2005) and The New Sociological Imagination (2006).

Introduction Analytic Social Epistemology Common Sense versus Collective Memory Consensus versus Dissent Criticism Disciplinarity versus Interdisciplinarity Epistemic Justice Evolution Expertise Explaining the Cognitive Content of Science Explaining the Normative Structure of Science Feminism Folk Epistemology Free Inquiry Historiography Information Science Knowledge Management Knowledge Policy Knowledge Society Kuhn, Popper and Logical Positivism Mass Media Multiculturalism Naturalism Normativity Philosophy versus Sociology Postmodernism Progress Rationality Relativism versus Constructivism Religion Rhetoric Science and Technology Studies Science as Social Movement Science Wars Social Capital versus Public Good Social Constructivism Social Epistemology Social Science Sociology of Knowledge Translation Truth, Reliability and the Ends of Knowledge Universalism versus Relativism University References Index