Martin W. Bauer: 'Truth-value' is not the only criterion of validity, there is also the felicity of performative knowledge claims . . .?

KREIMER, PABLO

Public Undeerstanding of Science

Sage

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2022 vol. 31 p. 361 - 366

0963-6625

Martin W. Bauer read Psychology and Economic History (Bern, Zurich, London) and is Professor of Social Psychology and Research Methodology, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He was editor of PUS from 2009 to 2016. He investigates ?common sense? from a comparative perspective and particularly in relation to science and emerging technologies.In this interview, Bauer offers us his keen insight into various aspects that have challenged ? and still challenge ? studies on public communication of science: from the sources of resistance to techno-scientific change, to the debate on post-truth, or the risks ? and also the possible educational effect ? posed by public controversies about technoscientific knowledge and its consequences. In his provocative view, ?resistance? should not be seen as necessarily negative or even irrational but can instead leave various alternatives open to social actors. He also explains why he likes to use the term ?scientific culture? to define the object of the field, even if the political authorities do not like it, because it seems to put science at the same level as Sport or Opera, while Science should be at the top of our culture. Finally, he suggests some promising paths for the future of research in this field, in a post-pandemic world.