Unleashing the potential of the ‘Sociology of Science’: Capitalizing on the power of science to usher in social, cultural and intellectual revolutions across the world, and lay the fo

This paper reviews the definitions of science put forward by different scholars, its myriad functions, its social duties and responsibilities, and the role played by science communication to the masses. It discusses the historical role played by science in ushering in social and intellectual revolutions particularly in the context of Europe and other developed societies, and the need to replicate them elsewhere. It also discusses the scope and the nature of work carried out in the fields of sociology of science as well as its limitations arising from its Eurocentrism and an ivory-tower approach. It also discusses how the ‘Sociology of science’ can be used to help the rapid intellectual and economic development of developing countries and tradition-bound societies by analysing differences between developed countries and developing countries as well as differences within developing countries, and can play a role in changing the lives of millions of people across the world. We believe the ‘sociology of Science’ encompassing fields such as historiography and sociology will go a long way in ensuring that the benefits of a scientific temper are properly communicated to millions of people across cultures, and that these can counter superstition, blind faith as well as traditional interpretations of various phenomena, besides aiding economic development. This field must, of course also be studied in the context of the latest advances in pedagogy, theories of pedagogical content, and even language acquisition patterns and language dynamics. The relevant aspects of other fields of social sciences must also, of course, be taken into consideration. Many fields of social sciences may remain enchained to Eurocentric paradigms and much work may need to be done to make them relevant for different cultures and societies, and tie them to global outcomes. Thus, this paper stresses the need for Sociology of science as a distinct cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary field of science in the twenty-first century with its own theories, methods and frameworks to which multi-cultural teams must contribute.