Dresden 2017 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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GP: Fachverband Geschichte der Physik

GP 6: Orte und Theorien

GP 6.3: Vortrag

Dienstag, 21. März 2017, 15:15–15:45, HSZ 105

Multiple galaxies, many voices: the changing configurations of a thought collective in observational cosmology — •Karin Pelte — Technische Universität Berlin

Considering the import-export dynamics which underlay most research sites of 20th century observational cosmology and the varying influence of states, "transnational" sums it up well, yet another concept is needed for an analysis. I chose to put to work Ludwik Fleck's "thought collective". It defines communication between its members as the main prerequisite and the central place for the development, transformation and establishment of both scientific knowledge as well as the scientific community itself; institutions, affiliations and, to a lesser degree, nations, represent mere instances amongst a multitude of overlapping, more or less binding thought collectives.

Post-war observational cosmology has been presented mostly by participating western scientists and, consequently, follows a West-Side Story narrative. In my talk, I will sketch out an overview of the said research strand highlighting contributions by Soviet Russian and Armenian, Swedish and possibly Indian actors. In order to support my investigation at this early stage, I will present a formal citation network analysis. The positions these players i.e. their publications take within the larger visualized citation network at different phases of the development should support further analysis of the transformation of knowledge within the changing configurations of the thought collective.