Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 294-301 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | GAIA: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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.
Keywords
- Agro-biotechnology, Ecology, Environmental research, Epistemic cultures, GMO, Molecular biology, Non-knowledge, Science policy, Science studies
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)
- Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous)
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In: GAIA: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Vol. 15, No. 4, 01.12.2006, p. 294-301.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Scientific cultures of non-knowledge in the controversy over genetically modified organisms (GMO)
T2 - The cases of molecular biology and ecology
AU - Böschen, Stefan
AU - Kastenhofer, Karen
AU - Marschall, Luitgard
AU - Rust, Ina
AU - Soentgen, Jens
AU - Wehling, Peter
PY - 2006/12/1
Y1 - 2006/12/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Agro-biotechnology
KW - Ecology
KW - Environmental research
KW - Epistemic cultures
KW - GMO
KW - Molecular biology
KW - Non-knowledge
KW - Science policy
KW - Science studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33845708549&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.14512/gaia.15.4.12
DO - 10.14512/gaia.15.4.12
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33845708549
VL - 15
SP - 294
EP - 301
JO - GAIA: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
JF - GAIA: Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society
SN - 0940-5550
IS - 4
ER -