The Mangle of Practice

Name: The Mangle of Practice
Price: 56.95 AUD
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ISBN: 9780226668031

Time, Agency, and Science

Andrew Pickering

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English

Chicago University Press
15 August 1995

Philosophy; Philosophy of science; Impact of science & technology on society; Ergonomics

This ambitious book by one of the most original and provocative thinkers in science studies offers a sophisticated new understanding of the nature of scientific, mathematical, and engineering practice and the production of scientific knowledge.

Andrew Pickering offers a new approach to the unpredictable nature of change in science, taking into account the extraordinary number of factors—social, technological, conceptual, and natural—that interact to affect the creation of scientific knowledge. In his view, machines, instruments, facts, theories, conceptual and mathematical structures, disciplined practices, and human beings are in constantly shifting relationships with one another—""mangled"" together in unforeseeable ways that are shaped by the contingencies of culture, time, and place.

Situating material as well as human agency in their larger cultural context, Pickering uses case studies to show how this picture of the open, changeable nature of science advances a richer understanding of scientific work both past and present. Pickering examines in detail the building of the bubble chamber in particle physics, the search for the quark, the construction of the quarternion system in mathematics, and the introduction of computer-controlled machine tools in industry. He uses these examples to address the most basic elements of scientific practice—the development of experimental apparatus, the production of facts, the development of theory, and the interrelation of machines and social organization.

By: Andrew Pickering
Imprint: Chicago University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: 2nd
Dimensions: Height: 22mm, Width: 16mm, Spine: 2mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9780226668031
ISBN 10: 0226668037
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 15 August 1995
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational , A / AS level , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Reviews for The Mangle of Practice: Time, Agency, and Science

Lucid and provocative. . . . It will make you think twice about how you became what you are. -- The Washington Post Book World Don't get too attached to tidy assumptions, such as 'firstborns succeed' and 'elite colleges make the difference.' The Pecking Order is bound to shatter them. -- Detroit Free Press Conley turns conventional wisdom on its head. . . . Astonishing. -- The New York Times A profound, controversial and blessedly easy-to-read book that ought to be required reading for armchair experts about families--their own families, and others about whom they gossip. -- The Oregonian Intriguing and provocative. --Howard Gardner, The Boston Globe [Conley] offers a revolutionary new theory -- grounded in facts and statistics -- detailing the complexities of both the familial and the societal sorting process. -- Booklist Families can be tough. Now there's statistical proof. -- O Magazine Fascinating...The Pecking Order provides a revealing and well-researched insight into modern American society. -- Tulsa World Authoritative yet lively... [Conley] chooses stories that get complicated, but he does not compromise the nuances of the statistical research. He keeps his prose simple...The Pecking Order brings an important but technical branch of social science to a new readership. --Michael Hout, Contexts An interesting and eminently readable combination of overall trends and individual family histories. -- The Providence Journal-Bulletin From the first page, this book is engaging because you cannot help but think of your own family predicament. -- The Seattle Times A fun read with a seriousintent...Conley satisfies our thirst for knowing the private lives of the rich and famous while also shedding light on the family lives of anonymous Americans. --Stanley Aronowitz, The Nation The Pecking Order is not a conventional parenting book, but it stands as a daunting reminder of the significant roles both parents and sibling play in determining a child's success in the world. -- National Post (Canada) Reveals a much more fascinatingly shaded world than that of those who choose either nature or nurture. - Kirkus Reviews