PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

The concepts of semantics and of social structure within the systems-theoretical approach to the sociology of knowledge are operationalized for a sociological investigation of pharmaceuticals. In this perspective, analytical shortcomings of the widespread understanding of drugs as the "resources of the doctor" become obvious. Furthermore, an entirely new social embeddedness of drugs which are developed scientifically and proffered by organizations instead of professions becomes apparent. This theoretically and genealogically informed understanding of drugs has several implications with respect to an analytical approach to pharmaceutical questions. Some of these implications are illustrated empirically using the example of drug regulation. On this basis the article considers more generally the set of challenges to regulation and governance which result from the liberation of technical objects from prior attachments to professional roles.