Technoscience and Democracy: Epistemic-Political Problems and Open Movements in the Achieving of Knowledge Societies

Abstract

The idea of progress persists and (techno)science, guided by the imperative of innovation, is its protagonist. But the modern conception of knowledge, which is associated with the progressive description, prediction and control of any circumstance, is opposed to the increasing of uncertainties. Despite the absence of certainty and in a context of Great Challenges and global risks, decision-making is not more democratic. The (techno)scientific image of the world is strange to us. This is the main impediment to achieving a knowledge society, and is also an excuse for the absence of public authority in the design and evaluation of research and innovation projects. This paper tries to describe epistemic and political causes of that our culture is not (techno)scientific but (tecno)scientificated, as well as the consequences of the loss of citizen authority. Also it will be exposed the opportunities that open knowledge movements provide to create knowledge societies.