Epistemological Approach Research Articles

Apprendere (con) l’intelligenza artificiale. Un approccio media-archeologico

LEARNING (WITH) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. A MEDIA-ARCHAEOLOGICAL APPROACH Abstract The article explores the role and implications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the educational context, challenging polarized narratives between apocalyptic and integrated perspectives. Through a historical-cultural analysis and a media-archaeological approach, it examines the dialogic and performative nature of AI, suggesting a critical and mindful approach to its use. Particular attention is given to the relationship between simulation and intelligence, highlighting how designing meaningful learning experiences requires a deep understanding of the underlying cultural frameworks. Finally, it proposes a reinterpretation of the educational challenges posed by AI, advocating for the integration of innovative epistemological and didactic approaches that enhance humanmachine interaction without resorting to instrumental or deterministic simplifications.

The systemic evolutionary theory of the origin of cancer (SETOC): an update

The Systemic Evolutionary Theory of the Origin of Cancer (SETOC) is a recently proposed theory founded on two primary principles: the cooperative and endosymbiotic process of cell evolution as described by Lynn Margulis, and the integration of complex systems operating in eukaryotic cells, which is a core concept in systems biology. The SETOC proposes that malignant transformation occurs when cells undergo a continuous adaptation process in response to long-term injuries, leading to tissue remodeling, chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and ultimately cancer. This process involves a maladaptive response, wherein the 'endosymbiotic contract’ between the nuclear-cytoplasmic system (derived from the primordial archaeal cell) and the mitochondrial system (derived from the primordial α-proteobacterium) gradually breaks down. This ultimately leads to uncoordinated behaviors and functions in transformed cells. The decoupling of the two cellular subsystems causes transformed cells to acquire phenotypic characteristics analogous to those of unicellular organisms, as well as certain biological features of embryonic development that are normally suppressed. These adaptive changes enable cancer cells to survive in the harsh tumor microenvironment characterized by low oxygen concentrations, inadequate nutrients, increased catabolic waste, and increased acidity. De-endosymbiosis reprograms the sequential metabolic functions of glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). This leads to increased lactate fermentation (Warburg effect), respiratory chain dysfunction, and TCA cycle reversal. Here, we present an updated version of the SETOC that incorporates the fundamental principles outlined by this theory and integrates the epistemological approach used to develop it.

Characteristics of refractory disease and persistent symptoms in inflammatory arthritis: Qualitative framework analysis of interviews with patients and health care professionals.

This study aims to explore patients' and clinicians' understanding and experiences of refractory disease (RD) and persistent physical and emotional symptoms (PPES) in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA), namely rheumatoid arthritis or polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis from their perspectives through interviews and/or focus groups. A qualitative study was conducted, following a pragmatic epistemology approach with framework analysis employed. Semi-structured interviews or focus groups with IA patients (n = 25) and multi-disciplinary rheumatology HCPs (n = 32) were conducted at one time point to obtain participants respective understanding and experiences of managing RD/PPES, and its impact on the patient-professional relationship. Three key themes were identified from both patients and professionals' experiences of RD/PPES: (1) relevant treatment experiences, (2) symptoms (with or without inflammation) and (3) impact: physical, psychological and social. These themes included 28 specific categories that would be considered as components characterizing RD/PPES, most common to both patients and HCPs with six being patient-specific and only one HCP-specific. The specific biopsychosocial symptoms and impacts of RD/PPES pertain to pain, fatigue, stiffness, joint involvement and physical, psychological and social functioning and quality of life, covering disease-related distress, mobility and independence. Wider influential factors such as comorbidities, non-adherence, health/medication beliefs and behaviours and social support were also identified. Common persistent symptoms that have both mental and physical impact characterize RD/PPES in IA and therefore a more integrated holistic approach to treatment is needed from multi-disciplinary HCPs, including health psychologists.

The role of women in rural enterprises and their contributions to sustainable territorial development. Popular market of the city of Latacunga, province of Cotopaxi and the ShunGo Foundation

Territorial development is a broad and multidimensional approach that can be applied in the empirical field to transform the economic, social and environmental dynamics of the territory conceived as a social construction, whose main objective is to improve the well-being of rural societies. It is based on structural changes in the productive and institutional dynamics, highlighting the role of rural women in the performance of entrepreneurial activities that contribute to poverty reduction, employment and income generation, among other fundamental aspects to promote the improvement of the quality of life of the population and the competitiveness of rural territories. The objective of this study was to analyze the role of rural women in the promotion of enterprises that contribute to sustainable territorial development. For this purpose, an empiricist-inductivist epistemological approach was used, whose postulates underpinned the use of the quantitative method. The information was collected from 73 rural women entrepreneurs of the popular market (68 people) and 5 representatives of the ShunGo Foundation of the city of Latacunga, province of Cotopaxi, through the application of a questionnaire submitted to expert validation. Among the main findings of the research, the role of the entrepreneurial woman for the sustainable development of the locality from the economic, social and environmental approach through business activities mainly oriented to the agricultural and livestock sector stands out

Professional judgment of the auditor. Skills involved, from the postulates proposed by Peter Facione

The intention of this work is to examine the cognitive and dispositional skills involved in the formation of the auditor's professional judgment, considering the postulates of critical thinking proposed by Peter Facione. The ontological position was based on the construction of social reality, which gave rise to a rationalist epistemological approach, according to which knowledge is generated from reason. The Delphi Method was adopted, widely supported by Facione, the guiding author of this work for the development of studies in the field of critical thinking. The findings of the research show the need to incorporate, in the field of audit, critical thinking with a view to guaranteeing the formulation of a rational and quality objective judgment that bases decision-making to improve the management of the entity. by management and members of corporate governance

Instrumento musical como categoria de pensamento: reflexões sobre técnica e tecnologia desde uma Antropologia da Música

Through ethnographic research developed with luthiers and other types of musical instrument builders in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, this article presents a reflection on the concepts of technique, technology, musical instrument and music. Starting from an epistemological approach of the Anthropology of Technique and Technology, we seek to reflect on how Musical Sciences, understood as an area of ​​knowledge production that concerns Music in its sound, epistemological and organological sense, can contribute in a peculiar way to the requalification of concepts used in other fields such as Philosophy and Anthropology itself. More than artifacts used to make music, we propose that musical instruments are categories of thought, which refer to a specific type of “technical object” or “thing” that is constituted in the flow of materials.

The Urgency of Philosophy of Science in the Context of Human Civilization: An Epistemological Analysis

This research aims to find out how the urgency of philosophy of science in the context of human civilization with epistemological analysis. An important part in creating and advancing human civilization is played by the philosophy of science. A thorough understanding of epistemology, the field of philosophy that deals with theory, offers a critical perspective on how people learn and develop science. With a focus on the epistemological viewpoint that serves as the foundation of scientific thinking, this article examines the importance of philosophy of science in relation to the advancement of human civilization. To gain a comprehensive understanding, this research uses descriptive qualitative research with a literature review. This study shows how the philosophy of science can guide human civilization towards more sustainable, knowledge-based and equitable growth. Philosophy of science plays a very important role in shaping human understanding of knowledge and the development of scientific methodology. Through critical analysis of basic concepts and epistemological approaches, philosophy of science helps us evaluate the validity of knowledge and the methods used in research. With the growing complexity of challenges facing humanity, such as climate change and social injustice, the critical thinking taught by philosophy of science is becoming increasingly relevant. In addition, philosophy of science contributes to innovation by encouraging reflective and interdisciplinary approaches in research. Therefore, the urgency of philosophy of science in the context of human civilization lies in its ability to facilitate ethical dialogue, encourage sustainable innovation, and ensure that the knowledge produced is relevant and beneficial to the whole of society.

EPISTEMOLOGÍA Y MULTIDISCIPLINARIEDAD: NUEVAS PERSPECTIVAS DEL SABER

Abstract The purpose of this essay is to reflect on the new perspectives of knowledge in epistemology and multidisciplinarity. This descriptive analysis focuses on the importance of epistemology in the validation of scientific knowledge considering its historical, social and psychological foundations. Epistemological dilemmas related to the nature of truth, justification and belief are decisive in understanding and evaluating knowledge. This discipline analyzes the methods and principles that guarantee the reliability of research knowledge. Multidisciplinary research integrates diverse epistemological approaches, from empiricism to pragmatism, to address complex problems, strengthening the generation of interdisciplinary learning. Ethics requires a commitment to principles such as respect, justice and beneficence, avoiding questionable practices and ensuring scientific rigor in research. In conclusion, epistemology validates scientific knowledge through justification, truth and belief, relying on theories such as empiricism and rationalism. Dynamic epistemic models guide research and facilitate the interpretation of phenomena. Multidisciplinarity enriches the study by integrating diverse methods, while ethics guarantees responsible practices, such as informed consent and integrity of results.

A Comparative Study on Philosophy, Epistemology, and Methods of Teaching in Design Studios in the Beaux Art, Polytechnique, and Bauhaus: Regeneration, Development, or Transformation?

The paper aims to investigate some philosophical and epistemological foundations in collecting knowledge in three important schools of architecture including Beaux Art, Polytechnique, and Bauhaus. Those three schools not only had differentiation in the time and location but also different ontological views of the built environment. Despite the less philosophical arguments on the architecture education, the curriculum and structure of the design studios (ateliers) referred to the beliefs, ideology, and philosophy even though they were not explicit. The content analysis, logical argument, and interpretation techniques were applied in this research to compare, investigate, and analyze the content of design studios and curricula to demonstrate the epistemological approach and the philosophical foundations in those three schools. The findings of the research show some linkages between the contextual and philosophical movements in the times of the schools and the structure of teaching. The effective philosophical foundations in those schools included neoclassicism, idealism, and romanticism for Beaux Art, rationalism, empiricism, and functionalism for Polytechnique, and socialism, modernism, and constructivism for Bauhaus. While it was not possible to draw a distinctive line between other philosophical thoughts from the schools, however, those philosophical schools were more related. In conclusion, the research realized a significant connection between four factors that form any architecture school, curriculum, and studio including philosophical and ontological context, epistemological discourses on knowledge, architecture projects and context, and architect’s beliefs and ideology. These four factors orient architecture education. The results could be useful for architecture schools, which will guide the other schools to select their orientation in the future.

Case studies of health economic analyses informing pharmaceutical health technology assessments for essential medicine selection and public-sector guidelines in South Africa.

Constrained resources under universal health coverage (UHC) necessitate a balance between medication costs and essential health system requirements. Policymakers practice priority-setting, as either implicit or explicit rationing, embedded in evidence-informed decision-making processes to guide funding decisions. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a method that may assist explicit evidence-informed priority setting. South Africa developed an official HTA methods guide in 2022, however before this, commissioning and performing economic evaluations was not standardized. We conducted a descriptive collective case study to explore the impact of economic analyses on the selection of, and access to, essential medicines in South Africa. Four cases were purposefully selected, and both official information and secondary data, including media reports, were reviewed. Data elements were extracted and organized in a matrix. Cases were reported narratively with a positivist epistemological approach, presenting the authors' reflections. We found economic analyses that reflected methodologies described in the HTA guide: international reference pricing, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and budget impact analyses. Economic analyses informing the 'resource-use' domain in the GRADE evidence-to-decision framework supported decision-making, influenced market-shaping with price reductions of interventions through benchmarking (fosfomycin, flucytosine), improved equitable access nationally (flucytosine), and prioritized a defined patient group in a justifiable and transparent manner (bortezomib). A standardized HTA evaluation process guided by a nationally accepted framework is necessary for evidence-informed decision-making. Economic analyses (cost-effectiveness, affordability, and resource use) should be consistently included when making decisions on new interventions.

Follow the user: Taking advantage of Internet users as methodological resources

In this article, I introduce a novel epistemological approach meant to re-adapt the digital methods paradigm to a fast changing digital landscape. This change was mostly brought about by the transformation of Web 2.0 into a platformized social media environment and the advent of the post-API and platform surveillance era. This approach is premised on the idea of considering the Internet user as a source of methods, rather than an object of study. To this purpose I suggest to ‘ follow the user’, meaning to take advantage of the natively digital methods that Internet users employ to gather, organise, manage and create their own digital data throughout their everyday digital practices. In order to illustrate my approach, I show how to practically follow the users in each of the key phases of a digital research project within social media platforms: keywords selection, data collection, data sampling, data analysis. In doing so, I mean to contribute to an emerging strand of research within the digital methods tradition which is trying to: (a) update digital methods, given the continuous mutations of the digital landscape; (b) seek a more organic and systematic integration of digital and qualitative methods; (c) go beyond the classical quali-quanti dichotomy.

Evaluation of General Entrepreneurship Programme Curriculum in Tertiary Institutions in Ogun State, Nigeria

Entrepreneurship programme has recently been discussed as the only solution to the unemployment ravaging the country. Using epistemological approach of the quantitative case study of the descriptive research design, this study assessed the general entrepreneurship programme curriculum in tertiary institutions in Ogun State. This was with a view to providing information on the extent of implementation of the entrepreneurship programme curriculum in Tertiary institutions in Ogun State, Nigeria. Directors of three higher institutions of learning (one University, one Polytechnic and one College of Education) were purposively selected based on compliance with the requirements for entrepreneurship programme. The results showed that the entrepreneurship programme curriculum in tertiary institutions in Ogun State was not effectively implemented. Also, it was discovered that only 37.4% of the courses had written curriculum. In addition, it was discovered that only 35.4% written curriculum are available for the entrepreneurship programme courses. Based on the findings of the study, it was therefore recommended that more skill acquisition courses should be embraced as stipulated by the federal government and experts should be employed to design written curriculum for entrepreneurship courses in tertiary institutions in Ogun state among others.

Вагомість українського внеску у розвиток загальнолюдського економічного надбання (до 100-річчя від дня народження докторки економічних наук, професорки Л.Я. Корнійчук)

The article presents the main milestones of scientific creativity and scientific achievements of Professor L. Korniychuk. The relevance of her works is confirmed by the modern challenges of Russia's hybrid war against Ukraine. The ongoing war presents economic science with its own challenges, because a change in the current socio-economic model is necessary. This, in turn, requires a revision of the modern scientific picture of the world. Problem-personified, epistemological and axiological approaches are used to characterize Ukraine's contribution to the development of world economic science. The connection between the economic school of F. Quesnay, the physical and economic theory of S. Podolynsky and the philosophical system of M. Rudenko has been revealed. On the basis of the analysis of L. Korniychuk’s works, the author shows her scientific biography, the worldview unity and orientation of her research, as well as her teaching and public activities. The Institute of National Economy (now Vadym Hetman Kyiv National University of Economics) and the Department of the History of National Economy and Economic Thought of the Institute of Economics of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR (now the Department of Economic History of the SO «Institute for Economics and Forecasting of the NASU») were important platforms for growth and realization of the researcher's creative potential. The legacy of Ukrainian economic thought contains lists of scenarios of the historical-economic transition from the continental physiocracy to the national scientific school of physical economy. The author reveals the significance of L. Korniychuk's research and publications for the popularization and development of the Ukrainian scientific school of physical economy. Shown the relationship between historical and economic research and physical and economic forecasting.

Epistimologi Sebagai Landasan Metodologi Ilmiah untuk Pengembangan Teori Baru Bidang Manajemen Pendidikan Islam

This study aims to identify and analyze the relationship between Islamic epistemology and scientific methodology in the context of Islamic education. This study uses a literature review methodology, data collection through in-depth examination of relevant and credible sources, such as scientific journals, academic books, research articles, and other related documents that support the research topic. The data collection technique involves systematically filtering the literature based on specific criteria, including topic relevance, source credibility, and year of publication, to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the data. This analytical process helps in developing a comprehensive conceptual framework and building strong arguments for interpreting the research findings. The results of the analysis show that epistemology plays an important role in the development of new theories in the field of Islamic education management. Islamic epistemology, which combines revelation and reason, provides a solid foundation for a scientific methodology that is in line with Islamic values. In addition, an epistemological approach can also help to address the challenges in Islamic education management in the modern era by providing an ethical and adaptive framework

An Analysis of Epistemology Implementation through Critical Thinking in the Modern Era

Critical thinking is a major discourse that often goes unnoticed, especially when society faces a contemporary phenomenon that insists on immediate understanding and absolute truth. The study analysis discusses the relevance and urgency of implementing critical thinking skills based on the epistemological approach necessary for all modern society. Diverse challenges and possibilities in the modern era require the skills of critical thinking. The aim is to prepare society to face these diverse challenges and approach new possibilities made in everyday life in the modern era. A descriptive qualitative approach, involving a comprehensive literature review of official documents, reference books, websites, government policies, and scholarly articles related to the research topic, was used in this study. From the results of the study on the topic above, it can be concluded that the cultivation of critical thinking, grounded in epistemological principles, is imperative. Critical thinking and epistemic cognition are no longer exclusive to Academics, but hostically become fundamental needs for everyone in modern society.

Gender and social entrepreneurship in turbulent waters: developing a gender-aware conceptual framework

PurposeThis paper identifies and maps themes and critiques emerging from feminist-informed and gender-focused mainstream entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship (SE) literature. We aim to develop a robust, theoretically informed gender-aware framework for future SE research.Design/methodology/approachA five-stage literature review process was undertaken to identify the common themes, key knowledge gaps and areas of contention highlighted by feminist critiques of mainstream entrepreneurship and what we refer to here as the “critical SE literature”. We draw on a widely used framework of epistemological approaches to discuss the emergent themes, specifically utilising three dominant epistemologies previously found to map onto entrepreneurship policy, those being: “gender as variable”, feminist standpoint and feminist poststructuralist positions.FindingsWe find feminist perspectives on SE particularly distinctive for their high reliance on relational and embedded accounts of the economy, more attentive to collectivist themes like “belongingness” in the performance of gender and identity, and maintaining a challenge to neoliberal and postfeminist norms. Anchoring each perspective in their respective epistemologies, we demonstrate their lineage in critiques of mainstream entrepreneurship and critical (non-feminist) SE. However, divergences from these lineages lead us to identify diversely contextualised and value-adding feminist accounts of SE that add richness and nuance to mainstream entrepreneurship theorising.Research limitations/implicationsThe relative “youth” of the gender-focused and feminist-informed SE literature, alongside the theoretical relevance of the feminist critique of mainstream entrepreneurship and critical social entrepreneurship literature, lead us to draw on the strengths of a more interpretivist paradigm in our research. This amplifies our ability to support the revelation of conceptual connections and relationships between emergent themes, theories, epistemologies and approaches drawn from multidisciplinary sources and to thereby enhance the reach, and associated value, of our research findings.Originality/valueThis review responds to calls for a gender-aware framework for social entrepreneurship research by (1) developing a set of original emergent themes, (2) tracing their intellectual lineage in associated research fields and (3) using them to deepen the connection between feminist epistemologies and entrepreneurship concepts.

Expanding student access to higher education: Examining the strategic processes for enhancing access to higher education from TVET colleges to universities of technology

In this article, the vexed issue of expanding access to higher education in South Africa is explored by investigating the pathways between technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and universities of technology (UoTs). Central to this examination is the Unfurling Post-School Education and Training (UPSET) project, which seeks to formalise these pathways and establish a more inclusive and adaptable higher education system. Drawing on Hall’s (1996) theory of articulation and the concept of relational autonomy, the article highlights the transformative potential of strategic collaborations between TVET colleges and UoTs. Using a qualitative case study conducted at a university of technology in the Western Cape province, South Africa, the article describes the complexities of developing jointly offered higher certificates (HCs) in the post-school sector. It emphasises the strategic role of the UPSET project in revitalising existing practices and cultivating deliberate processes and practices to expand access to vocational education. The article contends that UoTs are ideally positioned to facilitate jointly offered HCs based on their integration of theoretical and practical knowledge and their robust industry affiliations. Furthermore, the article highlights various epistemological approaches to developing HCs in UoTs. It argues for a more integrated higher education system that values both vocational and academic pathways and contributes to social justice and economic empowerment in South Africa.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosures Relationship to Corporate Performance: Philosophical Perspective

This research explores the disclosure of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors and their relationship with company performance. This research argues that ESG disclosure can influence a company's reputation, financial performance, analyst forecast accuracy, market valuation, and corporate decisions. By using ontological, epistemological and axiological approaches in the field of accounting, this research aims to understand the relationship between ESG disclosure and company performance. The literature review method was used to identify and evaluate relevant previous research. The findings indicate that there is a consensus in the literature regarding the positive relationship between ESG disclosure and corporate financial performance. This research also combines the ESG Rating Model and Environmental, Social and Governance indicators developed by MSCI to assess companies' ESG performance. A philosophical understanding of ESG in terms of ontology, epistemology, and axiology—which relate to the nature of reality, theories of knowledge, and values—reveals that ESG is closely related to moral, economic, and social values, as well as factual and normative knowledge. This research concludes that companies that integrate good ESG practices not only fulfill their social and environmental responsibilities but also achieve better financial performance, emphasizing the importance of ESG as a strategic consideration in business and investment decision-making and the long-term survival of companies.

Iconografía precolombina en el arte urbano y el grafiti en Bogotá. Un acercamiento a la prácticade pintura mural precolombina en espaciosconvencionales y no convencionales

The past, far from being a remote time framed in remi-niscence and faint imagery, is latent and susceptible to change. The main objective of this paper was to applymethodologies provided by fields of knowledge such asethnography, sociology, and art history, in order to capture and delve into the presence of pre-Columbian iconography in urban art and graffiti in the city of Bogotá, in both conventional and unconventional spaces; taking an epistemological approach to the practice of mural painting with allusions to pre-Columbian elements. In this way, through urban drifts, iconographic and iconological visual analysis, mapping, and qualitative interviews, we examined over twenty mural paintings, from which theoretical approaches were derived in relation to the use of public space, on the one hand, and the use of symbols, on the other. The conclusion reached is that artistic interventions, by participating in the construction and reconstruction of the social fabric, allow us to understand space as a volatile phenomenon; likewise, in the exercise of reflecting on the presence of art in the city, it is critical to pay attention to the conditions of production under which a piece is made, insofar as images have historically been powerful semantic toolsthat embody a purpose. Finally, the paper is an argument in favor of observation as a space of learning. The present reflections were part of a research process developed for the class “Uses of the past in the present: The Iconography of Antiquity in the Contemporary Culture”, at the Universidad de los Andes, first semester of 2023.

Is psychoanalysis a science? An answer in light of scientific pluralism

This paper explores the longstanding debate on whether psychoanalysis qualifies as a science. Grounded in the Brazilian context, where recent publications have revived the debate, I examine the demarcation problem in the philosophy of science, highlighting how traditional criteria for defining scientific knowledge may exclude epistemically fruitful practices, such as psychoanalysis. Drawing on the perspectives of scientific pluralism, I argue for a more inclusive understanding of science, where diverse methods and epistemological approaches are recognized as legitimate contributions to addressing complex phenomena such as mental health. Ultimately, the rigid application of demarcation criteria can obscure the value of psychoanalysis, whereas scientific pluralism offers a pathway for integrating it into broader scientific discourse.