Preamble / Objectives (Optional): As a point of departure from traditional concerns, social epistemology
privileges the social relations and institutions the epistemic agent finds herself embedded in. This course
introduces students to the historical growth of social epistemological inquiry in the context of philosophy of
science and familiarizes them with contemporary discussions on some relevant topics, which are
mentioned in the syllabus. The students should expect to gain insights on the social structure of science,
including practices that co-ordinate and reward research, on the relation between the growth of scientific
knowledge and its social structure, and on the relation between science and society, including the role of
values and questions of inclusion.
Course Content/ Syllabus
Social epistemology: Individualism of traditional epistemology, sociological and constructivist critiques,
recovering normativity; Change and progress; Controversies and disagreement: Resolution of
controversies, peerhood in science, rational response to disagreement; Epistemology of groups: Scientific
communities, testimonial practices, knowledge attribution, division of cognitive labour, group disagreement;
Values in science: Value-free ideal, epistemic justice and injustice, socially responsible science.
Books (In case UG compulsory courses, please give it as “Text books” and “Reference books”. Otherwise
give it as “References”.
Texts: (Format: Authors, Book Title in Italics font, Volume/Series, Edition Number, Publisher, Year.)
References: (Format: Authors, Book Title in Italics font, Volume/Series, Edition Number, Publisher, Year.)
1. A.I. Goldman, Knowledge in a Social World, 1st edition, Oxford University Press, 1999.
2. Feldman R. and T. Warfield (eds.), Disagreement, 1st edition, Oxford University Press, 2010.
3. H.E. Longino, The Fate of Knowledge, 1st edition, Princeton University Press, 2002.
4. K.C. Elliott, A Tapestry of Values, 1st edition, Oxford University Press, 2017.
5. T. S. Kuhn. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 4th edition, University of Chicago Press, 2012.
