Sociology of Knowledge

Sociology of Knowledge

Here is information on basic to the history and evolution of the sociology of knowledge as well as to the papers and biographies of that field’s most prolific thinkers.  This  guide gives you links to all of the theorists, theory papers, and schools of thought surrounding the topic.  Take a look at our other useful resources to help you understand sociology more as your continue your studies.

Basic Information

• Sociology of Knowledge Wiki: Overview of the different schools of the sociology of knowledge.
• Sociology of Knowledge Overview: an overview of the history and processes sociologists have focused on to learn more about how knowledge becomes socially modified.
• Sociology of Scientific Knowledge Wiki: the Wikipedia page on sociology of scientific knowledge including schools of thought and criticisms.

Theorists

David Bloor Wiki: the Wikipedia page for David Bloor with biography.

• Brief Biography: brief biography of Professor David Bloor.
• The Strong Programme: often associated with David Bloor this is a theory that comes as a reaction against previous sociologies of science which restrict the application of false theories.
• Overview of the Strong Programme: the Wikipedia page with an overview, history and criticism of the Strong Programme.
• The Strong Programme 4 Points: summaries of the four main aspects of the Strong Programme

Elise Boulding: interview of Elise Boulding on how she got started and sociology and her focus on peace making

• Brief Biography: brief biography

Stephen Bronner: Wikipedia page including Biography and theoretical contributions.

• Of Critical Theory and Its Theorists: Introduction: a research paper by Stephen Bronner.

Steven Brint: biography

• In an Age of Experts: book by Steven Brint available online.
• Book Review: book review by Scott London of Steven Brint’s In an Age of Experts.

Edmund F. Byrne: archive of publications.

• Mission in Modern Life: A Public Role for Religious Beliefs: research paper

James Curry: The Dialectic of Knowledge-in-Production: Value Creation in Late Capitalism and the Rise of Knowledge-Centered Production, a research paper.

Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s Theory: an explanation of Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s theory and phenomenological approach to the sociology of knowledge.

• Peter Berger: Wikipedia page includes biography, and overview of his thoughts and works.
• Thomas Luckmann: Wikipedia page including biography and works.
• The Social Construct of Reality: research paper by Berger and Luckmann that explores the ideas of “society as a human product” and “origins of institutionalization”
• Berger and Luckmann Works: links to academic texts and research papers citing Berger and Luckmann’s works.
• Summary and Critique of The Social Construct of Reality by Matthew Weinshenker: Berger and Luckmann’s paper explained and analyzed.
• Summary of the Berger-Luckmann Model: summary
• Social Reality Construction: how humans explain what is happening as they interact for understanding social conflict.
• Reading Guide: a helpful guide for reading The Social Construction of Reality
• The Social Dimension of Information Quality and Knowledge by Daniel Diemers: this research paper uses the theories of constructivist, interpretative sociology of knowledge to explore the social dimension of information quality.

Emile Durkheim: biography

• Pragmatism & the Question of Truth by Emile Durkheim: research paper.

Jurgen Habermas: a biography of the life and work of Jurgen Habermas.

• The Idea of the Theory of Knowledge as Social Theory: research paper by Jurgen Habermas.
• The Jurgen Habermas Web Resource: an archive of the work and communication theory he crafted.

Peter Fargo: Relativism in the Sociology of Knowledge, a research paper.

William Faulkner: the Wikipedia page for William Faulkner including a biography of his personal life and professional work.

• Comedy and Social Construction: how Faulkner’s short story “Shingles for the Lord” can be taught to relate to comedy and social constructions.
• William Faulkner on the Web: an online library of William Faulkner’s works

Andrew Feenberg: biography

• Technology and the Politics of Knowledge: an online book by Andrew Feenberg and Alastair Hannay.

Michel Foucault: biography, and archive of Foucault’s works.

• The Archaeology of Knowledge: research paper by Michel Foucault
• Michael Foucault: resource for biography and Foucault’s influence on modern philosophy.
• Michael Foucault: biography
• Foucault’s Works: resource for finding texts of Foucault’s papers, studies and research.
• Theatrum Philosophicum: a research paper by Michel Foucault.
• Foucault on Gender and Sex: a brief overview of Foucault’s views and theories on and of sex and gender

Jan Golinski: official homepage for Jan Golinski, includes brief bio and links to his works.

• Making Natural Knowledge: Constructivism and the History of Science (): research book, available online.

Antonio Gramsci Wiki: Wikipedia page for Antonio Gramski including biography of his earlier life and theories.

• Marxist Media Theory: Gramsci’s views on hegemony.
• An Introduction to Gramsci’s Life and Thought: a biography of the life and work of Antonio Gramsci.
• International Gramsci Society: a non-profit organization dedicated to learn more about Antonio Gramsci’s social and political theories.
• Antonio Gramsci Archive: archive of works and theories of Antonio Gramsci.

Donna Haraway: the Wikipedia page for Donna Haraway including information on her books, academic papers, and research.

• A Cyborg Manifesto: research essay by Donna Haraway.
• Online Resources: links to websites, articles, and research by Donna Haraway.

Thomas Kuhn: the Wikipedia page for Thomas Kuhn including a biography of his life and work

• Study Guide: a study guide for Thomas Kuhn’s book, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
• The Case of Literary Theory: overview of David Bromwich’s response to Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions.

Martin Kusch Wiki: Wikipedia page for Martin Kusch, includes biography and links to some of his publications.

• Bibliography: a bibliography of resources related to Martin Kusch’s research in the sociology of scientific knowledge

Richard A. Lanham Wiki: Wikipedia page for Lanham, brief biography.

• Technology, Scholarship, and the Humanities: a research paper.

Bruno Lataur and Michel Callon: an overview of the Actor-Network Theory.

• Bruno Lataur: biography.
• Michel Callon Wiki: Wikipedia page for Callon, brief biography and bibliography of his works.

Elizabeth Lane Lawley: official homepage for Lawley.

• The Sociology of Culture in Computer-Mediated Communication: An Initial Exploration: research paper.

David Locher: a research paper, Unacknowledged Roots and Blatant Imitation: Postmodernism and the Dada Movement.

Helen Longino: biography of the life and work of Longino.

• The Social Dimensions of Scientific Knowledge: a research paper.

Georg Lukacs Archive: biography and archive of works and criticisms.

• Georg Lukacs Wiki: biography of personal life and professional work

Jean-Francois Lyotard: biography.

• The Postmodern Condition A Report on Knowledge: a research paper.
• Rereading Lyotard: a research paper by Peter Roberts in response to Lyotard’s theories of knowledge, commodification and higher learning.

Karl Mannheim Wiki: Wikipedia page with biography of life and work of Karl Mannheim.

• Karl Mannheim: biography.
• Assumptions, Theoretical Content, and Critiques: information and resources to many of the theories and critiques of Karl Mannheim and his works
• Karl Mannheim: biography
• Classical Sociological Theory: an overview of Mannheim’s sociological approach and theories on ideology and utopia
• Karl Mannheim Web Resources: links to information on the life and works of Karl Mannheim.

Karl Marx: overview of Marx’s work and research in the sociology of knowledge.

• Marxists Views: overview of Marxism and the many theories associated with it.
• Marxism and Ideology: a brief overview of how ideology was viewed in Marxist theory.
• Sociology of Karl Marx: links to biographies of and research by Karl Marx.

Steve Mizrach: official home page for Mizrach, includes brief biography and links to his works.

• The Project of the Sociology of Knowledge and Cognitive Anthropology: a research paper exploring cognitive sciences and theories in that field.

Vilfredo Pareto: biography

• Mind & Society: research paper by Vilfredo Pareto.

Karl Popper: biography of the life and works of Karl Popper.

• Science as Falsification: a research paper by Karl R. Popper
• Karl Popper Web: resources for information on the life and works.
• Karl Popper: biography

Max Scheler Wiki: Wikipedia page for Max Scheler including a biography and resource list of his works.

• Max Scheler Web Site: biographical data, synopsis of his thought, and archive of his works.
• Synopsis of his Thought: a synopsis of Max Scheler’s philosophy and how it evolved throughout his lifetime.
• Online Resources: resources to texts and books covering Max Scheler’s work.

Pitrim A. Sorokin: biography

• Pitrim Sorokin Web Site: a biography and access to his theories and writings

Mike Sosteric: brief overview of Sosteric’s work.

• The Grand Information Future?: a research paper.

Thorstein Veblen: biography

Max Weber: biography and links to resources on his works.

• Definition of Sociology: a research paper by Max Weber.

Robert M. Young Wiki: Wikipedia page for Young, includes overview of his career and his theories.

• Online Writings: links to several of Robert Young’s works and research.

Frankfurt School Wiki: the Wikipedia page for the Frankfurt School, a neo-Marxist social theory.

• Illuminations: a critical theory website with information and web resources for learning all about the Frankfurt School of thought.
• Overview and Resources: overview, resources, and recommended readings for learning more about the Frankfurt School.
• Frankfurt School: overview.
• The Frankfurt School: overview of the history, theories and political significance of the Frankfurt School.