"“We have to shift our attention in social studies of science, from how do you reach the truth to how do you decide who’s an expert”
Harry Collins is one of the leading sociologists of science in the world and teaches at the School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University. In 2012 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy.
In Changing Order: Replication and Induction in Scientific Practice, Harry outlines a general theory of sociology of science. Drawing from the concepts of ""Language Game"" and ""Forms of Life"", derived from the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, he seeks an explanation for how scientists follow rules and patterns when performing experiments and scientific practice. His perspective is often labelled a relativist position, although Harry agues that this is a strong oversimplification.
Most recently, he has been a prominent voice on the role of experts in society, the importance of science in democracies and the dangers of artificial intelligence.
“Collins has presented us with an enthralling investigation into the way in which big science advances” Times Higher Education"