What is scientific knowledge? Are there social and cultural factors that contribute to the development of science? What institutions facilitate or hinder this development? Who are scientists? Why do disputes arise in science? Considering the relationship between science and society, sociologists of science question existing ideas about the structure of scientific knowledge. Contrary to the sometimes fascinating, sometimes sinister image of the scientist making discoveries alone in his laboratory, today's science, as sociologists convincingly show, is a collective and often international enterprise. The book is addressed to sociologists, cultural scientists, philosophers and historians of science.