ABSTRACT
This chapter refers to the concept of knowledge societies and examines the notion of knowledge. It describes the reasons for the importance of scientific knowledge as one among various forms of knowledge in advanced societies. The chapter also examines the limits to the power of scientific knowledge as well as the emergence of the fastest growing segment of the labor force, namely knowledge-based occupations. A critical analysis of the limits of the social power of scientific knowledge requires an understanding of the special nature as well as the similarities of scientific and non-scientific knowledge and action. The significance of knowledge grows in all spheres of life and in all social institutions of modern society. It is as meaningful to refer to modern society as a knowledge society as it made sense to refer to industrial societies even though there had been past social systems that were based on the work of "machines.".
