Final answer:
Biss suggests that science, as framed by Donna Haraway, can be both liberatory and dominating, with the capability to empower as well as to control and enforce power structures. This duality is influenced by societal power relations and who has the authority over scientific knowledge and practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Biss, by referencing the work of Donna Haraway, suggests that science can serve as a dual-edged sword, functioning as a means for both liberation and domination. This duality acknowledges that while scientific advancements can improve lives and empower individuals and communities, they also have the potential to be used for control, oppression, and the enforcement of power structures. Central to Haraway's perspective is the notion of 'situated knowledges,' which implies that all knowledge systems, including science, are influenced by social positions and power relations. Therefore, scientific knowledge does not exist in a vacuum but is impacted by the society in which it is produced, potentially reflecting the biases and interests of those in dominant positions.
For instance, scientific practices such as classification, surveillance, and medical intervention can liberate people by providing them with more control over their health and environment. However, these same practices can also lead to the suppression of individual freedoms and the reinforcement of societal hierarchies through mechanisms like biopower, as described by Michel Foucault. Through this lens, the capability of science to liberate or dominate is deeply intertwined with who has the authority to wield it and for what purposes.