In favor of a dialogue between political science and Science Studies

Abstract

ABSTRACTPolitical science and Science Studies both use the words “politics” and “science,” yet each applies such different meanings as to nearly appear incommensurable. Here, I explain to political scientists the various uses of these words by Science Studies practitioners and how they could relate to those used by political science. The paper shows that only one of these meanings of the word “science” (out of four possible meanings) distinguishes it in a radical way from “politics” (which may take on six different meanings). Once those meanings have been defined, I propose that a more fruitful collaboration between Science Studies and political science could be developed based on the method of “following issues,” rather than delimiting distinct domains for science and politics.

Keywords

• Science Studies
• political science
• Bruno Latour
• science and politics
• Estudos Sociais da Ciência
• ciência política