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David Bloor (June 28th 1942 - Present)

By 7899chocolate

  • Bibliography of Bloor

    Bibliography of Bloor
    David Bloor was born in the city of Derby, Derbyshire in the United Kingdom in 1942. Bloor began his studies in psychology and philosophy, and was awarded his PhD by the University of Edinburgh in 1972. He is a professor at the University of Edinburg and has made major contributions to the philosophy of science.

  • "Is the Theory of Mind Absurd?"

    "Is the Theory of Mind Absurd?"
    Bloor is a humble scientist who accepts that it is fine to not know something. This mindset sets the stage to appreciate and consider different perspectives and not to immediately dismiss a theory that sounds unusual because it is unpopular.
    In one of his first articles, "Is the Theory of Mind Absurd?", he essentially answers "no". He provides evidence for the logic and explains, even if it is not correct, it may still lead to further research and should not be entirely dismissed (Bloor, 1970).

  • "Knowledge and Social Imagery"

    "Knowledge and Social Imagery"
    Sociology is a key element in philosophy and science. Bloor argued against the idea that science can merely rely upon "successful" knowledge without questioning its origins. In "Knowledge and Social Imagery", Bloor expands upon the Karl/Popper debate, and most importantly, suggests that what we accept as true and what we choose to dismiss may be due to our own biases. For example, if a work sounds too "Marxist" at face value or something with a negative stigma, it may be dismissed (Bloor, 1993).

  • The Strong Programme

    The Strong Programme
    David Bloor was one of the founders of the "Strong Programme" at the Science Studies Unit at his university. His book "Knowledge and Social Imagery" went into depth about sociological thought and is also the main text for this study. This group of ideas relating to the sociology of scientific knowledge is one of the most prominent explanations for personal bias and ideology in science. He ultimately states that knowledge does not exist without human cognition which is subjective (Bloor, 1976).

  • "Anti-Latour"

    "Anti-Latour"
    Bloor responds to critics of the sociology of science and defends his take on estimology. He provides the example that our view of the world is merely a cognitive representation of light waves. If something this basic can be construed in such a way by our brain, how do we "know" if any theory or observation is objectively true? Knowledge is relational. We not only use our own experiences, agendas, and beliefs to understand the world, we use it to interpret "knowledge" (Anti-Latour, 1999).

  • Works Cited

    David Bloor, Anti-Latour, Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, Volume 30, Issue 1, 1999, Pages 81-112, ISSN 0039-3681, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0039-3681(98)00038-7 Bloor, David. “Is the Official Theory of Mind Absurd?” The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 21, no. 2, Cambridge University Press, May 1970, pp. 167–83, doi:10.1093/bjps/21.2.167.

  • Works Cited

    Fuller, Steve. “Knowledge and Social Imagery (Second Edition). David Bloor.” Philosophy of Science, vol. 60, no. 1, Mar. 1993, pp. 158–70, doi:10.1086/289724.