Scientific Practice and Ordinary Action : Ethnomethodology and Social Studies of Science

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Summary: Lynch's book breaks new ground
Review: Mike Lynch is a a formidable scholar in the social studies of the sciences. His former book, ART AND ARTEFACT IN LABORATORY SCIENCE, broke new ground in its detailed and precise analysis of exactly how natural scientists (in this case, neuroscientists) go about their business. In this early text, Lynch explored just exactly HOW neurobiologists distinguish between facts and artefacts in Golgi staining operations. But the book went far beyond this technical focus to explore how natural scientists create the domains of intelleigibility which they inhabit. In his subsequent work, SCIENTIFIC PRACTICE AND ORDINARY ACTION, Lynch developed much further his intense analysis of how it is that the 'scientific' is connected to, and dependent upon, 'commonsensical' modes of reasoning and inquiring. A truly original work, with much to recommend it, especially vis-a-vis his critique of pretentious philosophical treatments of similar themes. Controversial, but well worth your attention...