Hardback
Understanding the Knowledge Society
A New Paradigm in the Sociology of Knowledge
9781786439253 Edward Elgar Publishing
Complex knowledge and ideas are generated, shared and accessed globally. Andrea Cerroni turns to this knowledge society to offer a comprehensive social theory of its processes to bridge the gap between knowledge and democracy. Drawing on a long-term historical perspective, Cerroni assembles a cultural matrix, comprising ancient myths on nature, society and knowledge and modern myths of reductionism, individualism and relativism to improve our contemporary sociological imagination.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
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Complex knowledge, in many different forms, is generated, shared and accessed globally. Andrea Cerroni turns to this knowledge society to offer a comprehensive social theory of its processes and specificities, outlining controversies of knowledge and bridging the gap between knowledge and democracy.
Proposing a systematic and interdisciplinary typology to deal with multitudes of knowledge types, the author builds a theoretically grounded framework around the sociology of knowledge. This book offers a panorama of the extant literature on knowledge types and takes advantage of suggestions from different scientific disciplines, from neurosciences and epigenetics, to anthropology and physics. Drawing on a long-term historical perspective, Cerroni assembles a cultural matrix, comprising ancient myths on nature, society and knowledge and modern myths of reductionism, individualism and relativism to inspire contemporary sociological imagination.
Comprising an innovative and authoritative approach, this eclectic book will appeal to advanced scholars seeking a new theoretical framework for understanding the knowledge society. Students of sociology and epistemology will also benefit from its insights into the origins and philosophical background of the sociology of knowledge.
Proposing a systematic and interdisciplinary typology to deal with multitudes of knowledge types, the author builds a theoretically grounded framework around the sociology of knowledge. This book offers a panorama of the extant literature on knowledge types and takes advantage of suggestions from different scientific disciplines, from neurosciences and epigenetics, to anthropology and physics. Drawing on a long-term historical perspective, Cerroni assembles a cultural matrix, comprising ancient myths on nature, society and knowledge and modern myths of reductionism, individualism and relativism to inspire contemporary sociological imagination.
Comprising an innovative and authoritative approach, this eclectic book will appeal to advanced scholars seeking a new theoretical framework for understanding the knowledge society. Students of sociology and epistemology will also benefit from its insights into the origins and philosophical background of the sociology of knowledge.
Critical Acclaim
‘Sometimes regarded as blurry in its contours, sometimes overshadowed by science studies, the sociology of knowledge is faced today with the challenge of an ever-more knowledge-centred society. An overview and a personal outlook at the same time, Andrea Cerroni’s book represents a valuable entry point into a crucial dimension of contemporary life.’
– Luigi Pellizzoni, Università di Pisa, Italy
– Luigi Pellizzoni, Università di Pisa, Italy
Contents
Contents: 1. Acknowledgments 2. Approaching the knowledge society 3. Rise and fall in one quick step 4. In search of a theory 5. Recent topics 6. Imagining the complex society. A theoretical schema 7. Knowledge. A socio-cognitive ideal-typology 8. Knowledge Circulation: theory and applications 9. A new paradigm for sociology of knowledge 10. Conclusion Bibliography Index
