300453 Introduction to Social Studies of Science (MA: Politische Soziologie) (S) (WiSe 2025/2026)

The sociology of science and the social studies of science is a dynamic field that explores the institutional, organizational, and cultural conditions under which scientific knowledge is produced. It is shaped by various intellectual traditions and draws on insights from disciplines such as ethnology, history, philosophy, and the economics of science.

The aim of this introductory seminar is to provide an overview of the most paradigmatic questions and key research directions in the field, as well as its most influential theoretical approaches. We will read, discuss, and compare several seminal works, relying heavily on examples to make abstract theoretical concepts more accessible.

By the end of the seminar, you should have a solid understanding of the main approaches and a theoretical ‘map’ illustrating how they relate to one another.