Aportes de la sociología al estudio de la ciencia como proceso social y como producto cultural

Resumen

Contributions from sociology to the study of science as a social process and a cultural outcome

This paper deals with the social role of science within a sociological perspective. Reference is made to the diverse positions concerning such role: in one hand, American structural-functionalist current, on the other, sociology of knowledge and its debate on considering science as a sociological entity. As a completion, some general theoretical points about the scientific domain are put forward, as well as a sketch of the basic axis of social interpretation, based on critical sociology of science, as a process and cultural object.

Key words: Science, culture and society, sociology of science, socio-scientific practice, socio-cultural formation, scientific change, norm, belief.