1. Scams Cannot Be Busted: Reply To Woolgar & Cooper.
- Author
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Joerges, Bernward
- Subjects
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LEGENDS , *URBAN folklore , *FOLKLORE , *ETHNOLOGY , *MANNERS & customs , *SOCIOLOGY , *SOCIAL sciences - Abstract
This article replies to Steve Woolgar's and Geoff Cooper's (W&C) study on urban legends, in this case, referring to Winner's Moses-story. They proposed that the bridge-story is itself a dynamic, shifting and essentially inconcludable narrative, a form of urban legend. Before addressing some of the points W&C raise, the author likes to make clear that his case against Winner was not about the referential adequacy of the bridge-story. However, to be able to make his point, the author has to raise the issue of referentiality. His case against Winner is twofold: 1) that parables should be handled with care in teaching social science, and; 2) that what Winner asserts about technical artefacts is doubtful for any technical artefact, not only for Moses' low bridges.
- Published
- 1999
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