Epistemic Status
of Medical Knowledge
Sociology has a longstanding tradition of differentiation theory, as evident in the works of Durkheim, Weber, Parsons, and Luhmann. It appears that in a differentiated society with no apparent top, center, or common ground, translation, as suggested by Latour, emerges as a crucial competence.
It's astonishing how a doctor can discuss a patient's decision, such as whether or not to buy a car, in a way that transforms this decision into a medical one. Similarly, in his Encyclical "Laudato si", Pope Francis discusses politics and the environment in a manner that casts them as religious affairs.
Knowledge, in general, and medical knowledge, in particular, are not some sort of factum brutum 'out there'. Instead, they are constantly transformed and translated into different forms, targeting different audiences, and addressing different issues. I am especially interested in the role medical professions play in these translation practices. Despite the tendency of sociology to view professions as outdated concepts, the ability to translate and to act as a knowledge broker appears to be central to what professions fulfill in modern societies. Therefore, professions are possibly not on their way out, but are arguably more important than ever before.
Selected Talks/Publications
- »Die Empirie der Palliativmedizin. Der Arzt als ›wilder Leser‹«. Vortrag im Rahmen des Nachwuchsworkshops der DGS-Sektion Professionssoziologie am 11.06.2021 (online)
- together with Nassehi, A. / Saake, I. / Breitsameter, C. / Barth, N. / Berger, K. / Gigou, S. (2023): ”Do you really believe that there is something more?” – The offer of transcendental communication by Pastoral Care Workers in German Hospices and Palliative Care Units: A Qualitative Study. In: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
- Gegenwart des Arztes am Sterbebett – die Empirie der Palliativmedizin, in: Form und Vergegenwärtigung, Wiesbaden: Springer VS, S. 141-190.