Scientific cultures of non-knowledge in the controversy over genetically modified organisms (GMO): The cases of molecular biology and ecology

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

  • Stefan Böschen
  • Karen Kastenhofer
  • Luitgard Marschall
  • Ina Rust
  • Jens Soentgen
  • Peter Wehling

Externe Organisationen

  • Universität Augsburg
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)294-301
Seitenumfang8
FachzeitschriftGAIA: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
Jahrgang15
Ausgabenummer4
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 1 Dez. 2006
Extern publiziertJa

Abstract

The limits of scientific knowledge are an emerging problem in the debates about technological risk. In an exemplary analysis of the controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMO), we show that the epistemic settings of two involved scientific disciplines - molecular biology and ecology - entail different types of non-knowledge and deal with non-knowledge differently. Both of these "scientific cultures of non-knowledge" are analysed along five criteria: the way of dealing with unforeseen events, the way of dealing with complexity and uncertainty, the temporal and spatial scales of knowledge, the de- and re-contextualisation of knowledge, and the epistemic (self-)reflexivity. The scientific culture of non-knowledge in molecular biology can be described as control-oriented, while that of ecology can be described as uncertainty-oriented. This difference is mirrored in the societal discourses and regulations concerning GMO. A greater variety of cultures of non-knowledge seems likely, which calls for further analysis.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Zitieren

Scientific cultures of non-knowledge in the controversy over genetically modified organisms (GMO): The cases of molecular biology and ecology. / Böschen, Stefan; Kastenhofer, Karen; Marschall, Luitgard et al.
in: GAIA: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Jahrgang 15, Nr. 4, 01.12.2006, S. 294-301.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

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AU - Böschen, Stefan

AU - Kastenhofer, Karen

AU - Marschall, Luitgard

AU - Rust, Ina

AU - Soentgen, Jens

AU - Wehling, Peter

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KW - Ecology

KW - Environmental research

KW - Epistemic cultures

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KW - Science policy

KW - Science studies

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