Objectivity and Rationality in Scientific Knowledge Economy

Abstract

The paper presents the general lines of an "economy of scientific knowledge", and specifically an approach from the social studies of science based on the application of game theory to the analysis of scientific interactions and institutions. The paper will analyze in what sense and to what extent an approach of this kind can be useful to answer the classic questions about the rationality and objectivity of scientific knowledge. These issues are exemplified with the application of game theory to three different situations: the choice of standards or quality standards in science, the choice of a theory, and the "social construction" of a scientific fact.

Keywords

• objetividad
• racionalidad
• economía del conocimiento, teoría de juegos
• instituciones científicas.