Philosophy of Science: An Introduction for Future Knowledge WorkersA student's future as a knowledge worker (one who "thinks for a living" with the task of problem solving) is the starting point of this book. With this in mind, the book combines a review of philosophical positions and problems with practical examples and perspectives gained from everyday challenges faced by knowledge workers in their businesses and organizations. Through the use of summative chapters, highlighted key concepts, questions for reflection, and illustrative examples on how to work with the theories presented, the book provides a clear and accessible introduction to this challenging subject. Philosophy of Science primarily addresses students studying language, communication, marketing, economics, and management. However, the survey of the theoretical schools of thought - as well as the discussions on research ethics and the role of research in society - will be equally relevant for other students in the humanities and the natural and social sciences. |
Contents
Contents | 9 |
About this Book | 17 |
The First Philosophy of Science | 23 |
Logical positivism | 34 |
Positivism in Practice | 40 |
A Summary | 53 |
Kuhns Theory of Paradigm | 59 |
A Summary | 69 |
A Summary | 137 |
A Summary of the Philosophies of the Social | 143 |
Questions for Reflection | 150 |
Science Politics and Ideology | 159 |
A Hermeneutic Understanding of Society | 168 |
What Is a Society? A Summary | 174 |
Science Politics and Society | 181 |
A Summary | 196 |
A Summary of the Classical Philosophies | 75 |
PHILOSOPHY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES | 81 |
Gadamer | 90 |
Hermeneutic Science in Practice | 97 |
LéviStrausss Structural Anthropology | 107 |
Althussers Symptomal Reading | 113 |
Questions | 119 |
Bruno Latour | 130 |
Science and Ethics | 203 |
Kants Ethics of Disposition and Duty | 211 |
Research and Ethics | 220 |
Ethics in Practice | 226 |
A Summary of Selected Themes in the Philosophy of | 229 |
Timeline | 243 |
Common terms and phrases
able According to Kuhn Althusser approach behaviour believe Bourdieu chapter characterized claim classical communication Comte concept conflicts consciousness consider constitutes construction context critical rationalism cultural Dilthey Durkheim economic empiricism employees ence ethical example Explain fact Falsificationism fundamental Gadamer Gulddal and Møller hermeneutic circle hermeneuticians horizon of understanding human and social idea ideal types ideology important individual inspired instance interpretation Kant knowledge worker Kuhn's language games Latour level of knowledge Lévi-Strauss linguistic logical Logical positivism logical positivists Marx means metaphysics methodology modern moral natural sciences neutral normal science norms object observations organization perspective philosophy of science political Popper positivism positivists practical prejudices problem production question reality reason role Saussure schools of thought scientific scientists sensory social constructivism social constructivists social sciences society society's structuralist structures theory of paradigms tion truth uncover utilitarian virtue ethics Weber words worldview