Knowledge and Power (U02146)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SPS-3-KNOW&POW

Sociologists have been debating and disputing the nature of social scientific knowledge, and the most desirable political orientation for social inquirers to adopt since the discipline came into being. This course explores the interconnections between four different 'images' of sociological inquiry, their conceptions of sociological investigation and their views on the appropriate stance towards political and moral debates. These images range from positivist conceptions, where social inquirers are encouraged to be scientists who set their value-judgements to one side, to postmodernist accounts, where the ideal of sociology as a science and the notion that value-judgements can be set aside, are questioned. Also considered are interpretive approaches, arguing the importance of grasping actors' perspectives on the social world, and critical/emancipatory orientations, seeing social scientific knowledge playing key roles in the liberation of social actors from domination and repression. This course critically assesses these approaches considers and appraises pieces of research linked to each perspective.

Entry Requirements

? Co-requisites : None

? Costs : No

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Sociology, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Friday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course the student will have developed an understanding of theories and debates concerning relationships between knowledge and power, and will be able critically to assess contrasting approaches.