Cited Podcast #1: The Science Wars
Apr 14, 2020
Alan Sokal, a mathematical physicist famous for his postmodernism hoax, joins literature professor Bruce Robbins, who offers insights on the politics of the academic left, and sociologist Steve Fuller, who provides historical context. They dive into the contentious 'Science Wars' of the 90s, discussing the impact of Cold War funding on science perceptions and the political fallout from Sokal's hoax in Social Text. The trio also explores how these debates have shaped today's 'post-truth' climate and the complex relationship between science and politics.
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Origins Of The Science Wars
- The Science Wars were 1990s debates between natural scientists and humanities scholars about the nature and role of science.
- These debates arose as Cold War-era unquestioned scientific authority waned and funding and purpose became politically contested.
STS Shifts Focus From Methods To Power
- Science and technology studies (STS) asks who science serves and how it is organized, not just how it works.
- That focus made critics see STS as questioning science's authority rather than its methods.
Supercollider Cancellation Sparks Backlash
- The U.S. cancelled the Superconducting Supercollider in 1993 after Congress cut funding amid austerity debates.
- Physicists blamed critiques of science studies for public distrust and loss of support for big science projects.
