Current Current Epistemological Epistemological

TheoriesTheories

Science/pseudo scienceScience/pseudo science

ContentContent

Common features of Current Common features of Current epistemological theories.epistemological theories.

1 Evolutionary Epistemology1 Evolutionary Epistemology 2 Kuhn’s Paradigm Model2 Kuhn’s Paradigm Model 3 Lakatos’s MSRP3 Lakatos’s MSRP 4 The Strong Program in the 4 The Strong Program in the

Sociology of ScienceSociology of Science

Main Criticism on Positivism Main Criticism on Positivism & vienna circle philosophers& vienna circle philosophers

Mind is not a blank sheet; rather there are Mind is not a blank sheet; rather there are innate ideas, for example in language innate ideas, for example in language formation and behavior patterns, These formation and behavior patterns, These Biological Variation are another problem Biological Variation are another problem while applying empirical methods in social while applying empirical methods in social Science inquiry.Science inquiry.

Subject matters are different. (Benton & Subject matters are different. (Benton & Craib 2001).Craib 2001).

Criticism on Vienna circle philosophers Criticism on Vienna circle philosophers FOR TAKING PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCEFOR TAKING PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

META SCIENCEMETA SCIENCE VERSES VERSES EMPIRICAL SCIENCEEMPIRICAL SCIENCE

Common Features Common Features of Epistemic Theoryof Epistemic Theory

Generic account of Methodology.Generic account of Methodology. Tentative rather than finalTentative rather than final Theoretical hypothesis /Empirical dataTheoretical hypothesis /Empirical data Scientific progress in terms of better Scientific progress in terms of better

explanatory hypothesis ,better techniques explanatory hypothesis ,better techniques for empirical data collection.for empirical data collection.

Explicate relation between pure Science Explicate relation between pure Science and its practical application.and its practical application.

Could distinguish between Scientific Could distinguish between Scientific proposition and other belief systems.proposition and other belief systems.

1 Evolutionary Epistomology1 Evolutionary Epistomology

An evolutionary An evolutionary epistemologist claims epistemologist claims that the development that the development of human knowledge of human knowledge proceeds through proceeds through some natural selection some natural selection process, process,

Three components of Three components of the Modelthe ModelVariation,

Selection and Retention. (Gordon 1991).

1 .1 .1Herbert Spencer(1820 1 .1 .1Herbert Spencer(1820 1903)1903)

English Philosopher, Biologist English Philosopher, Biologist and Sociologistand Sociologist

Defined evolutionary Defined evolutionary epistemology a cosmic epistemology a cosmic phenomena rather than just as a phenomena rather than just as a biological one.biological one.

1.1.2 Gergen simmel (1895) 1.1.2 Gergen simmel (1895)

concluded thatconcluded that

Organisms use ‘concepts’ in dealing with the problems they confront and ‘a true concept for an animal is that which makes it behave in a way most fitting its circumstances’‘Psychogenic concepts

The survival of the fittest organisms means also the survival of the most ‘life promoting' concepts.

‘Knowing is not first true and then useful, rather it is first useful and then referred to as true’.

1.1.3 Stephen E.Toulmin1.1.3 Stephen E.Toulmin

He was against reduction of He was against reduction of Philosophy of Science in to Philosophy of Science in to Biology. How ever Darwinian Biology. How ever Darwinian Theory gives an explanation of Theory gives an explanation of the phenomena of “human the phenomena of “human understanding”.understanding”.

1.1.4 Karl Popper1.1.4 Karl Popper(1902 1994).(1902 1994).

Theory of development of knowledgeTheory of development of knowledge Human knowledge as Human knowledge as

growing through growing through cultural cultural evolution rather than evolution rather than organic evolution.organic evolution.

The entities that The entities that compete in civilized compete in civilized societies are not people societies are not people but but theoriestheories. (nature act . (nature act as judge).as judge).

continuedcontinued

Popper tried to solve problem of theory Popper tried to solve problem of theory choice by establishing criteria that choice by establishing criteria that would compare competing in theories would compare competing in theories in terms of their in terms of their truth value.truth value.

FalsificationismFalsificationism

Context of discoveryContext of discovery

Context of JustificationContext of Justification(All Swans are white).(All Swans are white).

Cultural EvolutionCultural Evolution

Modern EraModern Era Ancient cultureAncient culture

1.2 .1 Criticism on Evolutionary 1.2 .1 Criticism on Evolutionary EpistomolgyEpistomolgy

• Adaptation is not a certificate of merit .

It is not a question of the popularity of a belief, or itsacceptability to established authorities;( it is the warrant one has for holding it that distinguishes science from non-science).e;g Astrology.

They have a naive faith in competition, assuming that, whatever the conditions, the surviving beliefs are better than the failing ones.

1.2.2 Merits of Evolutionary 1.2.2 Merits of Evolutionary EpistemologyEpistemology

• It gives view of the fact that It gives view of the fact that science is a social enterprisescience is a social enterprise

• Easy availability to the non Easy availability to the non scientific experts.scientific experts.

2 The social organization of scientific research

2.1Thomas Kuhn (1922 1996)Thomas Kuhn (1922 1996)Theory of Scientific DevelopmentTheory of Scientific Development

2.1.1Paradigm & 2.1.1Paradigm & Paradigm ShiftParadigm Shift

Normal Science-Normal Science--- Convergent Convergent thinking—Stable Period of a thinking—Stable Period of a Paradigm. (Puzzle Solving)Paradigm. (Puzzle Solving)

Revolutionary Science—Revolutionary Science—Divergent thinking—Extra Divergent thinking—Extra ordinary or revolutionary ordinary or revolutionary period of a Paradigm.period of a Paradigm.

ContiConti

Paradigm Shift is Paradigm Shift is Moving from a Moving from a regressive research regressive research Program to Program to Progressive one.Progressive one.

Theories based on Theories based on different paradigm different paradigm are are ‘Incommensurab‘Incommensurable”.le”.

(Gordon 1991:Craib 2001)(Gordon 1991:Craib 2001)

Revolution leading to Paradigm Shift

Crisis

Un resolved anomalies

Newtanian Mechanics(After 200 yrs)

Einstein theory of Relativity

Example(Paradigm and Example(Paradigm and paradigm shift)paradigm shift)

Existing Existing beliefs(Before beliefs(Before Newton)---Newton)---

Copernican RevolutionCopernican Revolution

Nicolai CopernicusNicolai Copernicus,,

proposed(2000yrs)afteproposed(2000yrs)after Aristotle that the r Aristotle that the sun not the earth sun not the earth was center of Solar was center of Solar System.System.

Gestalt PatternsGestalt Patterns

2.1.2 Criticism on Kuhn’s 2.1.2 Criticism on Kuhn’s Paradigm ModelParadigm Model

Relativism Relativism (The influence of peer (The influence of peer group scientists).group scientists).

Incommensurability Incommensurability Could hold no Could hold no longer paradigmatic position.longer paradigmatic position.

Irrationalism Irrationalism Paradigm shift Paradigm shift Progress/RegressionProgress/Regression. (Bishop, 2007). (Bishop, 2007)

2.1.3 Merits of Khun’s 2.1.3 Merits of Khun’s Paradigm ModelParadigm Model

History of Science Philosophy of History of Science Philosophy of Science and sociology of science into Science and sociology of science into a comprehensive theory of scientific a comprehensive theory of scientific development.(Law of History).development.(Law of History).

(Gordon 1991).(Gordon 1991).

3 Lakatos’s methodology of scientific research programmes(MSRP).

3.1 .1 Lakatos defends Popper

that a theoretical hypothesis is immediately shown to be false if there is any evidence that is inconsistent with it. that specific scientific hypotheses are part of ageneral complex or ‘series’ of theories which together constitute a coherent ‘research programme that such a programme is not abandoned when specific empirical anomalies are disclosed unless another, superior, programme is available.

‘3.1.2 Sophisticated falsificationwhich focuses on the comparative evaluation of whole research programmes.

3.2 Lakatos’s MSRP Methodology of 3.2 Lakatos’s MSRP Methodology of Scientific Research Programme(1970)Scientific Research Programme(1970)

Hard Core –Hard Core –Immune from Immune from empirical test. empirical test. because of because of Protective belt.Protective belt.

Out side--lie theoretical hypotheses that can be tested, and abandoned

conticonti

A new programme will be adopted when it is shown that it can explain everything that the previous programme could, and more besides.

The choice between competing paradigm is not a matter of mob psychology, (like Kuhn) but Functional Utility or Rational arguments.

3.3 Criticism on MSRP3.3 Criticism on MSRP

The MSRP model allows the possibility of gaining knowledge by using theories that are subsequently regarded as, in the absolute sense, false.

Lakatosian MSRP fails to meet the empirical test of general applicability.

•He rejects the notion that external factors such as the political, social, or economic environment have anything to do with the fate of particular scientific theories or the choice of general research programmes.

4 The ‘strong programme’ in the sociology of science

David Bloor and Barry Barnes,(1976)

4.14.1 Edinburgh School –Philosophy of Edinburgh School –Philosophy of Science a branch of Sociology.Science a branch of Sociology.

Pasteur’s famous experiment demonstrating that life forms could not arise from non-living matter was accepted by the scientific establishment because it harmonized with the political and social conditions and the theological beliefs of nineteenth-century France

4.24.2 Criticism on Strong Criticism on Strong programme programme

Criticism based on conscious rational Criticism based on conscious rational choice.choice.

Due to inconsistency in strong Due to inconsistency in strong programme.programme.

Akin to Akin to Natural Natural selectionselection

Peer group Peer group ScientistsScientists

Utility Utility functionfunction

Rational Rational ChoiceChoice

FalsificatioFalsificationismnism

VerisimilituVerisimilitudede

SophisticatSophisticated ed falsificationfalsification

Social Social External External factorsfactors

Context of Context of JustificatioJustificationn

Context of Context of DiscoveryDiscovery

incommenincommensurablesurable

Paradigm&Paradigm&

Paradigm Paradigm ShiftShift

incommensincommensurabilityurability

Hard core& Hard core& Outer Outer Theoretical Theoretical CoreCore

Both T/FBoth T/F

Epistemic Epistemic symmetrysymmetry

No No Empirical Empirical Social Social phenomenphenomenaa

Karl Karl PopperPopper

Thomas Thomas KhunKhun

Imre Imre LakatosLakatos

David David bloor,Barrbloor,Barry Barnesy Barnes

5 Paul Feyerabend

Advocates the ultimate pluralism: since no epistemological theory is acceptable, then all methods of obtaining knowledge that human ingenuity can imagine are equally meritorious, and none should be condemned as invalid;Scientific theories are instruments of inquiry which are employed in the discovery of truth, not true or false in themselves.

6 Conclusion6 Conclusion

The aim of science is to transcend The aim of science is to transcend the subjectivity of individual the subjectivity of individual perceptions and control of cultural perceptions and control of cultural conceptions by warrantable and conceptions by warrantable and reasonable objective inferences reasonable objective inferences about social phenomena.about social phenomena.

Objectivity is to be abandoned as an Objectivity is to be abandoned as an IDEAL.IDEAL.

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