ABSTRACT
Introduction to the book “Stabilised instability: How computer security makes knowledge?” discusses how computer process of transition of computer security into a field of science was studied as a research problem in the sociology of science. Discussing the basics of ethnographies by many authors, the introduction shows that qualitative social research about the field and researchers as a social group is complementary to quantitative research done by the field itself.
The introduction includes a short discussion on ethics, the approach to field research, limitations concerning interpretability, and a discussion on the necessity of balancing critical and reflective perspectives.
The introduction ends with discussion on the structure of the book and a peculiar story about cyberespionage and the philosophy of science.
