Mad Genius Controversy: Study in the Sociology of Development

by Barry Barnes

The authors bring the perspectives of sociology and anthropology to bear on key historical developments in various fields of science, demonstrating that it is possible to study science in the same way as other forms of culture - art, music, and literature. They show that our understanding of science, and the development of scientific knowledge, can be enriched by these perspectives, and that the history of science can benefit from case studies, such as those presented here.

255 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1978

About the author

S. Barry Barnes was Professor of Sociology at the University of Exeter. He is known for his pioneering work on the sociological study of knowledge generation and evaluation in science, and on the credibility of scientific expertise.