Reconfiguring Truth: Postmodernism, Science Studies, and Knowledge

In this review of Reconfiguring Truth, Steven C. Ward offers a thoughtful bridge between postmodern critiques and science and technology studies, and the book's single biggest reason to read it is its clear path through the familiar impasse between modernist and postmodernist accounts of knowledge. Ward writes for readers who already wrestle with questions of epistemology and the social character of science, and the text rewards patient, reflective reading with a framework that connects theory and STS approaches such as actor-network ideas.

Key Features

• Bridge between traditions: The book explicitly links postmodern skepticism about fixed notions of truth with practical STS approaches, helping readers reconcile two often opposed perspectives.
• Focus on actor-network theory: Ward presents actor-network and related STS tools as constructive ways to think about knowledge, which clarifies how scientific facts are produced and maintained.
• Fresh theoretical framing: The author forges a new path through the modernism versus postmodernism debate, making the work useful for rethinking entrenched epistemological positions.
• Interdisciplinary appeal: The book is written to engage social scientists, historians, and philosophers, offering comparative examples and conceptual connections that cross disciplinary boundaries.
• Caution and rigor: Rather than offering simple polemics, the text demonstrates a careful, measured critique that invites further study and debate among scholars.

Who It's For

Reconfiguring Truth is best for graduate students, social scientists, and scholars in philosophy or history of science who are already familiar with postmodern debates and want an STS-informed way forward. Readers looking for a concise intervention that connects theory to the study of scientific practice will find the book particularly valuable.

Those seeking an introductory primer for general audiences or a how-to guide to scientific methods should look elsewhere; the book assumes a level of prior engagement with epistemology and theoretical terminology and works most effectively as part of academic reading or seminar discussion.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a coherent synthesis of postmodern critique and STS, clarifying contested ideas about truth and reality.
• Uses actor-network theory constructively, giving readers concrete conceptual tools to analyze knowledge production.
• Written with academic rigor, making it suitable for scholars and advanced students across disciplines.

Cons

• The text presumes familiarity with specialized debates, so it may feel dense for readers new to epistemology or STS.

Specifications

Title	Reconfiguring Truth: Postmodernism, Science Studies, and the Search for a New Model of Knowledge
Author	Steven C. Ward
Subject areas	Philosophy; Epistemology; Science and Technology Studies
Intended audience	Social scientists, philosophers, historians, scholars of science and technology
Approach	Comparative critique linking postmodernism and STS (including actor-network theory)

Our Verdict

Reconfiguring Truth is a thoughtful, well-argued work that rewards readers who want to move beyond polarized debates about truth and reality. It is good value for scholars and advanced students seeking a rigorous, interdisciplinary framework that links postmodern critique to practical STS concepts and offers a constructive way to rethink knowledge production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book explain actor-network theory?
Yes; actor-network theory is discussed as one of the STS approaches Ward uses to show how knowledge is enacted in practice.

Who will gain the most from reading it?
Advanced students, social scientists, and scholars in philosophy or history of science will gain the most, especially those engaged with epistemological debates.

Is it suitable for general readers?
Not as a first introduction; the book assumes some prior familiarity with postmodern and epistemological terminology and debates.