Excursionintotheforestof“Knowledge”、“science”.positivism.ppt

Excursion into the forest of “knowledge”, “science”, “technology” and “society” School of Culture Social Development Studies,SWU. Spring,2009 On Importance of Science in Modern Life If one asks which of the […] four “potencies” – state, religion, art or science – most deeply influences modern life, the answer can be no other than science. We live in a most “scientific” era. This is already proven by the changes that the adapted science, technology, has brought about in mankind’s exterior conditions of life in our century. Of the other three potencies of civilisation, we may say that they exist under the influence of the power of science. […] We need not investigate here, whether the mastery of science is more for the good or the bad. The mere knowledge of the existence of this mastery ought, for any alert person, to be an admonition to seek to learn something about the philosophy that lives, so to speak, with its face turned to science (von Wright 1971, p.23). Transdisciplinarity of Science and (also Technology) Theory of Science: Reflections on what characterizes the structure and truth of the body of knowledge within science, as well as the characteristics of scientific methodology History of Science: Reflections on History of Science Philosophy of Science: Reflections on Philosophical Problems of Science Sociology of Science: Reflections on Sociological Conceptions of what it means to be doing science- that is practice of science Ethics of Science: Reflections on Ethical Issues in relation to Society but also ethical issues within scientific community Structure of the Four Presentations: 1.What constitutes our heritage? Theories of Knowledge Theories of Science Scientific Knowledge 2.What are the Major influences that have shaped our heritage?  In between Consensus and Conflicts and Controversaries Modernity and Enlightenment: Focus on reason and system of reasons and wider political influence of science on society 3.What constitutes our practice a