In the shadow of scientism. On dealing with heterodox knowledge, experiences and practices in the GDR

该项目的重点是正统和非正统知识与前民主德国的行为守则之间的关系，采用知识社会学的方法。特别侧重于政府决定的现实制度的政治社会保护战略。为了这个目的，所谓的超自然现象（即占星术，奇迹愈合，dowsing）的大多数未被探索的领域将作为例子。更确切地说，是一方占主导地位的科学主义世界观与另一方偏离科学主义世界观的大众的观点和生活实践之间的冲突。具体地说，提出了三个中心问题：（1）在民主德国重建这种偏离的知识和实践领域，（2）分析政府的战略，以确保理想的制度的现实和（3）调查的实际处理时，处理异端的现实。一个方法的重点在于部分叙事采访进行了这一领域的演员，以及当时的社会控制当局的代表。这些自愿答复将辅之以对大众媒体和官方当局言论的分析。

The project focuses on the relationship between orthodox and heterodox knowledge and codes of practice in the former GDR, applying an approach from the sociology of knowledge. Particular focus lies on strategies of political-social protection of a governmentally determined system of reality. For this purpose the mostly unexplored area of the so called paranormal (i.e. astrology, miracle healing, dowsing) will serve as example. More precisely the conflicts between the dominant scientistic world view on the one side and deviating from this, the views and life practices among the general public on the other side. Concretely, three central problems have been posed: (1) the reconstruction of this deviating field of knowledge and practice in the GDR, (2) an analysis of governmental strategies for assuring the desired system of reality and (3) the investigation of the actual handling when dealing with heretics of reality. One methodical emphasis lies on partly narrative interviews conducted with actors of this field as well as representatives of social control authorities from that time. These voluntary responses will be complemented by analyses of discourse in the mass media and from official authorities.