Scientific rationality and the ?even stronger programme?

Abstract

This is a programmatic proposal about a better use of the notion ofscientific rationality in the sociology of scientific knowledge (SSK). Strangely enough, some relativistic authors in the SSK literature allow room for scientific rationality in their analyses of scientific practice. I interpret their arguments as follows: since science is essentially a collective activity, any rationality developed and sustained in science should have someinstitutional basis analysable in sociological terms. I advocate that sociologists should explain such scientific rationality, especially the asymmetry between science and nonscience, in sociological terms. In some sense, my programme is ‘even stronger’ than Bloor's ‘strong programme’.