Longino (1989)

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Longino, Helen. (1989) Feminist critiques of rationality: Critiques of science or philosophy of science? Women's Studies International Forum 12 (3), 261-269.

Title Feminist critiques of rationality: Critiques of science or philosophy of science?
Resource Type journal article
Author(s) Helen Longino
Year 1989
DOI doi:10.1016/s0277-5395(89)80004-4
Journal Women's Studies International Forum
Volume 12
Number 3
Pages 261-269

Abstract

Three strategies in feminist critiques of rationality are examined: one proceeding via a critique of science, one via a critique of the methods/philosophy of science, one via a critique of the modern bureaucratization/industrialization of science. While each of these moves from an important initial insight about contemporary science, each also has distinctive weaknesses. This paper explores their strengths and problems and their roots in standard philosophical approaches to science. The second half of the paper explores the implications of our alternative approach to the problem of rationality. This approach, which treats the cognitive process of scientific inquiry as social processes, enables us to see how social values and ideology can be expressed in so-called “good science” as well as in methodologically deficient inquiry. It thus provides a basis for thinking about feminism in science that avoids the problems identified in the earlier part of the paper.