Knowledge and Power

Author: Lao Si
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: To understand the characteristics of modern science, this book reimagines knowledge and power. It opposes the notion that knowledge and power are tangible entities possessed or used by actors. Knowledge is not merely a representation; this model includes both the object or phenomenon being represented and the contextual arrangements, within which the representation becomes understandable and can be meaningfully connected to other representations and practices. Additionally, knowledge is meaningful and beneficial only within history and in the anticipation of its future development. This book aims to transform the way people think about the political and cultural significance of modern science. It proposes three central themes. First, science not only creates new and better representations for our lifeworld but also profoundly transforms the world and ourselves. Second, the common concepts of knowledge and power are insufficient to understand these aspects of scientific practice, and therefore, they must be revised. Finally, by reimagining knowledge and power in this way, we can see that the indispensability of science to culture and politics, as well as the central role of political issues in science, far exceed the extent recognized by most scientists and philosophers. I will briefly discuss these three themes.