The subject of knowledge in collaborative science

Abstract The epistemic subject of collective scientific knowledge has been a matter dispute in recent philosophy science and epistemology. Following the distributed cognition framework, both collective-subject accounts (most notably by Knorr-Cetina, Epistemic Cultures , Harvard University Press, 1999) as well no-subject Giere, Social Epistemology 21:313–320, 2007; Carruthers, Stich, Siegal (eds), Cognitive Basis Science Cambridge 2002a) have offered. Both strategies accounting for are problematic from perspective mainstream Postulating genuinely subjects is high-commitment strategy with little clear benefit. On other hand, eliminating radically severs link between knowers. Most importantly, lead to undesirable outcome that some cases there might be no individual knower we can identify. I argue offers us fertile framework analyzing complex socio-technical processes contemporary production, but should nonetheless located distinguish production possession knowledge, collectively produced not possessed knowledge. then propose an account non-testimonial, expert which allows known individuals.