Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science

A book at the interface between sociology and the philosophy of science and discussing a wide spectrum of views. The author distinguishes two a priori predilections which correspond to the distinction between a conservative and a radical intellectual temperament. The first are normal scientists while the second are paradigm busters, towards which the Network tends. He also coins the delightful term 'switcheroo', when one starts with a 'hypothesis that is amenable to a range of interpretations, giving arguments that support a weak version, and thenceforth pretending that one of the stronger versions has been established'. A reverse switcheroo involves starting with a strong version of a hypothesis and retreating to a weaker one when one gets into trouble, pretending that one espoused the weaker one in the first place! These two processes can be performed in tandem and repeated ad infinitum so that 'a judicious application of this strategy enables one to maintain an indefensible position forever'.