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Objectivity in the feminist philosophy of science

Haely, Karen Cordrick
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1064415629

Abstract Details

2003, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Philosophy.
According to a familiar though naïve conception, science is a rigorously neutral enterprise, free from social and cultural influence, but more sophisticated philosophical views about science have revealed that social and cultural are ubiquitous in scientific practice, and thus ought not be ignored when attempting to understand, describe and prescribe proper behavior for the practice of science. Indeed, many theorists have argued that social and cultural values and interests must be present in science (and knowledge gathering in general) in order to make sense of the world. The concept of objectivity has been utilized in the philosophy of science (as well as in epistemology) as a way to discuss and explore the various types of social and cultural influence that operate in science. The concept has also served as the focus of debates about just how much neutrality we can or should expect in science. This thesis examines feminist ideas regarding how to revise and enrich the concept of objectivity, and how these suggestions help achieve both feminist and scientific goals. Feminists offer us warnings about “idealized” concepts of objectivity, and suggest that power can play a crucial role in determining which research programs get labeled “objective”. In addition, the views examined in this thesis offer conceptions of objectivity that are intended to allow us to increase the extent to which our scientific theories are objective, but at the same time allow us to appreciate (and not eliminate) the role of cultural and social interests as they play a role in science.
Louise Antony (Advisor)
145 p.
Philosophy; Women's Studies
feminist critique of science; objectivity; feminism; philosophy of science

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Haely, K. C. (2003). Objectivity in the feminist philosophy of science [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1064415629

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Haely, Karen. Objectivity in the feminist philosophy of science. 2003. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1064415629.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Haely, Karen. "Objectivity in the feminist philosophy of science." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1064415629

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1064415629
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© 2003, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.