The Frankfurt School, Science and Technology Studies, and the Humanities

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Frankfurt School, Science and Technology Studies, and the Humanities

AU - Collin, Finn

AU - Pedersen, David Budtz

PY - 2015/1/2

Y1 - 2015/1/2

N2 - This paper examines the often overlooked parallels between the critical theory of the German Frankfurt School and Science and Technology Studies in Britain, as an attempt to articulate a critique of science as a social phenomenon. The cultural aspect of the German and British arguments is in focus, especially the role attributed to the humanities in balancing cultural and techno-scientific values in society. Here, we draw parallels between the German argument and the Two Cultures debate in Britain. The third and final purpose of the paper is to explain why these efforts in support of the humanities would in the end prove fruitless, even somewhat self-defeating. The key factor is the instrumentalist analysis of science adopted in both arguments, which played into the hands of the emergent “entrepreneurial university” with its strengthened emphasis upon the economico-technological aspect of science and consequent neglect of the humanities.

AB - This paper examines the often overlooked parallels between the critical theory of the German Frankfurt School and Science and Technology Studies in Britain, as an attempt to articulate a critique of science as a social phenomenon. The cultural aspect of the German and British arguments is in focus, especially the role attributed to the humanities in balancing cultural and techno-scientific values in society. Here, we draw parallels between the German argument and the Two Cultures debate in Britain. The third and final purpose of the paper is to explain why these efforts in support of the humanities would in the end prove fruitless, even somewhat self-defeating. The key factor is the instrumentalist analysis of science adopted in both arguments, which played into the hands of the emergent “entrepreneurial university” with its strengthened emphasis upon the economico-technological aspect of science and consequent neglect of the humanities.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - Science studies, Frankfurterskolen, humanioras samfundsrolle

U2 - 10.1080/02691728.2013.782588

DO - 10.1080/02691728.2013.782588

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0269-1728

JO - Social Epistemology

JF - Social Epistemology

ER -