Institutionalist Sociology of Science (original) (raw)

The essence of this paper revolves around the idea that the relativist perspective on science stems from an erroneous approach to the sociological factors influencing cognitive content. I argue that the understanding of scientific thinking should not be framed within the confines of traditional sociology of knowledge. Since science functions as a global institution with a standardized mode of thinking, the evaluation of its theories should involve an examination of the institutionally regulated processes leading to the construction and accreditation of knowledge. The institutionalist approach proposes that justification through reasons and empirical data should be complemented by a reliabilist perspective.