Reflections on science and technoscience

Abstract

Technoscientific research, a kind of scientific research conducted within the decontextualized approach (DA), uses advanced technology to produce instruments, experimental objects, and new objects and structures, that enable us to gain knowledge of states of affairs of novel domains, especially knowledge about new possibilities of what we can do and make, with the horizons of practical, industrial, medical or military innovation, and economic growth and competition, never far removed from view. The legitimacy of technoscientific innovations can be appraised only in the course of considering fully what sorts of objects technoscientific objects are: objects that embody scientific knowledge confirmed within DA; physical/chemical/biological objects, realizations of possibilities discovered in research conducted within DA, brought to realization by means of technical/experimental/instrumental interventions; and components of social/ecological systems, objects that embody the values of technological progress and (most of them) values of capital and the market. What technoscientific objects are -their powers, tendencies, sources of their being, effects on human beings and social/economic systems, how they differ from non technoscientific objects -cannot be grasped from technoscientific inquiry alone; scientific inquiry that is not reducible to that conducted within DA is also needed. The knowledge that underlies and explains the efficacy of technoscientific objects is never sufficient to grasp what sorts of object they are and could become. Science cannot be reduced to technoscience.

Exploring View of Nature of Science and Technology Pre-Service Chemistry Teachers

“…It is also consistent with the view of Gardner (1999), where technology generally is seen as a science application. However, it needs to understand that technology is not only an application of science, but technology creates objects to be investigated and sometimes technological innovation is a direct goal of research (Lacey, 2012). Besides, 2.08% of students consider that technology is a process for producing and knowing how to make products.…”

Ciência, valores, conhecimento tradicional/indígena e diálogo de saberes

“…Nesse contexto, não é surpreende que atualmente é comum dentro das instituições científicas identificar a ciência efetivamente com a tecnociência comercialmente orientada [TC], i.e., investigação-SD que visa gerar inovações tecnocientíficas que possam contribuir ao crescimento econômico e ao fortalecimento da incorporação dos {VC&M} no mundo da vida (Lacey, 2012;. Essa identificação obtém destaque porque, nessas instituições, os pressupostos seguintes (com origens cartesianas e baconianas) estão amplamente aceitos:…”

An Essay on Human Values in HCI

“…In the scientific domain, axiological issues are related to whether research can be truly free of value (e.g., of researchers' values), and whether its ends should be designed to expand knowledge or to change society [18]. In his reflections on science and technoscience, Lacey [19] has developed an idea of interaction between values and scientific practices, rejecting both the positivist objectivism that challenges the influence of values in scientific activity, and the postmodern relativism that denies the distinction between cognitive values and ethical and social values. Lacey considers epistemological and practical implications of science in contemporary society, arguing that scientific institutions and scientists themselves should consider the social, ecological and human contexts when designing their research projects and instruments.…”