Table of Contents
Editor’s introduction
Science, Technology, and Communication . . . . . 3
From Paradigms to Pluralities:
A Comprehensive Review of
Science and Technology Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2. Using Kuhn as Paradigm:
A brief history of STS as understood through the
lens of Pre-Kuhnian STS, Mertonian-Kuhnian
STS,and Post-Kuhnian STS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
A. Pre-Kuhnian science studies:
Empiricism, functionalism, and the
rationality debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
B. The Mertonian-Kuhnian moment: Paradigms,
normal science, and scientific revolutions . . . . 7
C. Post-Kuhnian STS: Constructivism,
reflexivity, and the splintering of sociologies . 7
D. Moving beyond Kuhn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3. Neoliberal Globalization and
the Transformation of STS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4. On the Nature of STS as It Stands Today:
Epistemic Pluralities and the
Ontological Decentering of STS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
A. On traversing through a logic of difference . . 12
B. On traversing through a logic of convergence 14
5. On the Nature of Inquiry within
the Contemporary Traditions of STS . . . . . . . . . 14
A. “Boundary-crossing STS claims
and practices” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
B. “Meta-activism” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
C. “Experiments in participation” . . . . . . . . . . . .16
D. Concluding thoughts on methods within STS .17
6. Closing Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Recommended Citation
Issar, Shiv
(2025)
"From Paradigms to Pluralities: A Comprehensive Review of Science and Technology Studies,"
Communication Research Trends: Vol. 44:
No.
2, Article 1.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/crt/vol44/iss2/1