ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with what counts as ‘scientific knowledge’ and begins by looking at the relationship between social anthropology and science. Social anthropology has an ambivalent and intimate relationship with science. Some anthropologists have argued the case for placing anthropology firmly in the scientific camp and in so doing have promoted its ‘proper’ scientific credentials. Certain anthropologists have been preoccupied, at different times, with the question of whether anthropology is or is not a science. Ballast to the ‘anthropology as science’ thesis is that of ‘science as everyday practice’. The chapter focuses on scientific understanding as processual and formulated in interaction. Scientific knowledge is measured and assessed in the ability of people to retain and regurgitate bits and bytes of information. A complex political, economic and scientific alliance has fuelled a speeded-up pursuit of biotechnology. This is resulting in an unprecedented plethora of both life-enhancing and life-degrading possibilities.
