Legitimization

LEGITIMIZATION IN SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTION

MICHELANGELO GIOTTO SANTORO TRIGUEIRO

INTRODUCTION

This paper sets out to discuss legitimization from a theoretical standpoint as part of mainstream analysis of scientific and technological production1.

Despite the fact that science and technology are clearly distinct forms of knowledge (the former basically concerned to explain phenomena, the latter designed to deliver physical and social dominion and control over nature), in this paper they will be examined en bloc with regard to their relation to a particular social praxis. The object of analysis is thus species of scientific and technological activity that combine these two forms of knowledge in socio-historical development.

As a result, no specific branch of science or technology will be systematically surveyed. The aim, on the contrary, is to discuss scientific and technological activity in broad terms, greater emphasis being placed on technology.

Fields that patently involve a constant combination of the scientific and technological domains include fine chemistry, new materials, computer science (or computer technology, if you prefer), microelectronics, fiber optics and what has been loosely termed new biotechnologies.

Purely for the sake of illustration, biotechnology admits a dual approach: one more scientific, concerned with the study of basic issues involving Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Microbiology; the other more technological, the purpose of which is to obtain products and processes with potential industrial and commercial applications. If, on the one hand, scientific research on new biotechnologies is wholly dependent upon sophisitcated equipment (electronic microscopes, computers and ultracentrifuges, to name but a few instances), on the other, the results of such research - which produces vaccines, hormones and proteins - are of direct interest to industry