The "Science Wars" refer to a series of debates in the late 20th century concerning the nature of scientific knowledge and its relationship to society. These discussions often pitted traditional scientists against social constructivists, who argued that scientific knowledge is influenced by social and cultural contexts rather than being purely objective. Key figures in these debates included Alan Sokal, who famously published a hoax article in a cultural studies journal to challenge the validity of certain postmodernist ideas. The conflicts highlighted tensions between different perspectives on science, including its role in shaping public policy and understanding of the world.