In Science and Social Inequality, Sandra Harding argues that both the philosophy and practices of modern Western science ultimately function to advance global social inequalities. Drawing on feminist, postcolonialist, multicultural, and antiracist critiques of Western science, Harding supports this argument and exposes the ways in which modern Western science engenders social injustices particularly within the contexts of militarism, environmental destruction, and Western expansion. Through the nuanced and multilayered review and analysis of these critiques, Harding proposes ways to re-conceptualize the sciences and formulates a persuasive case for the emergence of feminist, practice-focused philosophies of science.
Science and Social Inequality is divided into two sections; this paper will examine the structural organization of Harding’s text with particular attention to how the initial section supports her proposed reconceptualization of the sciences on a global scale. My aim is to review themes and key points of the text in order to evaluate the case Harding presents for the utility and necessity of a postcolonial, feminist science studies.
Part I: The Social World of Scientific Research
The first part of Sandra Harding’s Science and Social Inequality is comprised of 6 chapters that situate science firmly within the social and political world and ultimately serve to question the outcomes of its research
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