Ideology and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge

Ideology critique has traditionally proceeded either by contrasting science and ideology or by distinguishing genuine interests from the distortions of false consciousness. At the same time that the sociology of scientific knowledge has opened up the content of science to social analysis, it has undermined the bases for such ideology critique. Barnes's attempt to rehabilitate a critical conception of ideology fails to provide for robust critique, and reintroduces an asymmetry - earlier banished - between instrumentalism and concealed social interest. An alternative approach to ideology is proposed, that dispenses with appeals to demarcation criteria or the interrogation of motives. Instead, ideology should be seen as a particular effect of many signifying practices within and outside science - the establishment or maintenance of disparities of power in society. The role that social studies of science can play in identifying potential remedies for ideology is discussed.