Belief in Science and Science in Beliefs: Weather Conditions and Power Clashes in Forecasts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v51i1.697Keywords:
meteorology, weather, science, belief, powerAbstract
Although there are weather forecasts provided by the Thai Meteorological Department as guides for the general public in the conduct of their modern life activities, why did some sellers in a suburban market of Bangkok reject the official forecasts and turn to believe in the words of a shaman on what the daily weather is going to be instead? This paper attempts to answer the question by tracing the fabric of this circumstance and argues that the weather forecasts of a shaman give them a chance to empower themselves in their struggle against being caged in by knowledge created by scientific practice and official authority, which limit the possibilities of their pursuit of economic activities. Along with literature review and fieldwork, the paper also discusses some theoretical aspects to point out that the intermingling of visuality of things is present in both the scientific and belief weather forecasts.
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