Externalist Approach Research Articles

Women in History of Economic Thought: A Critical and Historical Perspective

This study attempts to understand the systemic exclusion of women thinkers from economics syllabi in India, particularly within the history of economic thought (HET). Their absence in syllabi not only reflects a failure to acknowledge their contributions but also represents the neglect of the very issues they addressed. The historical construction of economics as a male-dominated discipline is deeply intertwined with societal norms and the way gender is treated within the economic literature. By examining the portrayal of women in economic literature from Xenophon to neoclassical economics and analysing the social institutions of marriage, property rights and divorce during industrialization, this study challenges the construction of the ‘economic man’ as an autonomous individual and the concomitant marginalisation of women within the male-breadwinner household. Moreover, it advocates for the integration of an externalist approach methodology and the inclusion of the works of women economists into the HET syllabi.

Метаморфозы идентичности человека достроенного: от цифрового донора к цифровому кентавру

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective. </strong>Identification of formation vectors of technologically completed personality and analysis of the specificity of identity of its different types through the prism of opportunities and risks of its construction.<br><strong>Background. </strong>The Fourth Industrial Revolution is gradually bringing us to the frontier of the steady transformation of the human being into a being increasingly connected to technology. Smartphones, computers, the Internet of Things, and AI assistants, which form an integral technosystem that mediates the everyday life of man, are complex cultural tools that become his complements and extensions – part of the personality. A new type of personality, technologically completed by advanced digital tools, is formed as the most important result of the modern stage of social and cognitive evolution of the human psyche in the conditions of digital transformations. Identity as an integrative personal formation is a key phenomenon for understanding the possible psychological transformations of a modern person in the conditions of convergence of online and offline worlds and determining the risks of various options of metamorphoses of technologically completed personality. <br><strong>Methodology. </strong>Externalist approaches to the study of a person (L.S. Vygotsky, E. Clark, D. Chalmers, L. Malafouris, etc.), the socio-cognitive concept of digital socialization (G.U. Soldatova, A.E. Voyskunsky), concepts and approaches to the analysis of identity (E. Erikson, K. Rogers, I. Hoffman, G. Tajfel, J. Turner, S. Moscovici, J. Marcia, etc.). <br><strong>Conclusions. </strong>The vectors of technologically extended personality are identified through the following types: digital natives, techno-conservatives, techno-isolationists, cyborgs, personoids, digital centaurs. Their main characteristics are described and the specifics of identity and possible risks of its development for each type are analyzed. One of the pre-adaptive vectors of identity transformation is the transition from digital natives-donors to digital centaurs.</p>

Distributed cognition in oral poetry improvisation: a semiosis-centered approach

Abstract We propose a semiotic externalist approach that takes cognition as semiosis, gives central importance to the notion of temporal distribution, describes the elements of distributed cognitive systems (DCSs) as signs, and identifies the DCS itself as a system that enacts a sign. This is a semiosis-centered, and thus a non-agent-centered account of DCSs. In order to develop and illustrate our argument, we describe an example of DCS – the Brazilian verbo-musical improvisational tradition of repente – considering it first as embodiment of the formal structure of a cognitive task, and then as embodiment of a semiotic process. The latter corresponds to a semiotization of the description of repente sessions as DCSs, that focuses on how the DCS can embody a meta semiotic process, semiosis that supervenes on, and determines, distinct types of smaller-scale semiotic process.

Perceiving God like an angel

Abstract Mystical experiences are often regarded as potential sources of epistemic justification for religious beliefs. However, the ‘disanalogy objection’ maintains that, in contrast to sense perceptions, mystical experiences lack social verifiability and are thus merely subjective states that cannot substantiate objective truths. This article explores a novel externalist response that involves the concept of angels. As spiritual beings, angels can directly perceive God and verify these perceptions in their celestial community. Thus, the ‘direct perception of God’ is not inherently incapable of social verification. While invoking angels might appear contentious, it coheres with the externalist approach of conceptualising cognitive states under hypothetical settings. Despite the differences between humans and angels and their lack of interaction for verification purposes, our approach remains valid because mystics not only exemplify the same general type of ‘direct perception of God’ as angels but can also be preliminary members of a wider celestial community.

Birth of the Academy of Sciences in Russia

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the historical factors that led to the emergence of modern science in the Russian Empire, with a particular focus on the establishment and development of the Academy of Sciences during the 18th and 19th centuries. Adopting an externalist approach to the History of Science, the study explores the interplay between religious, political, social, and intellectual elements and their impact on the evolution of science as a social institution, culminating in the establishment of the Academy of Sciences. The paper highlights the critical relationship between the State and scientific endeavours and sheds light on the transformative efforts of Peter the Great in modernising Russia. It also examines the Empire's cultural exchange with the West and the influential role played by foreign scientists in the nascent years of the Academy of Sciences. By delving into the complex interactions between the Russian cultural framework and scientific developments, this paper seeks to provide a general overview of the cultural context surrounding the institutionalization of scientific work in Russia. It serves as a guideline for future specialised research, offering insights into the multifaceted influences that shaped the growth and establishment of modern science in the Russian Empire.

Критика всеобщего как разумного в философии Франкфуртской школы

The article examines the issue of criticism of universality in culture, which in the philosophy of the Frankfurt School is understood as the totality of society and thinking, identity, fixed by the concept and subordinating the “heterogeneous”. The author draws attention to the fact that the criticism of the “universal” by M. Horkheimer and T. Adorno develops into negation in relation to reason as a unifying and instrumental thinking, which, ac-cording to philosophers, is an activity, on the one hand, associated with the affirmation of the uniform, with the other, focused on self-preservation. The article, from the perspective of the problem of the relationship between the “unique” and the “universal”, reveals the ambivalence of the Frankfurtists’ position, and concludes that their criticism, which is acquiring an absolute character, has a destructive and pessimistic potential. The methodo-logical basis of the study was a complex of general logical and cognitive approaches and procedures, includ-ing methods of philosophical reflection, analysis and synthesis, systemic, formal-logical and dialectical, the method of matching the historical and logical and the externalist approach. The research’s scientific novelty lies in addressing the issue of the relationship between the “unique” and the “universal” within the context of XX century spiritual culture, while its relevance is underscored by the social and cultural significance of reinterpret-ing the controversy between “social totality” and the “individual subject” in modern philosophical discourse, in-fluencing self-awareness and the prospects for modern societal development.

Reifying actions into artifacts: process–object duality from an embodied perspective on mathematics learning

Grasping mathematical objects as related to processes is often considered critical for mathematics understanding. Yet, the ontology of mathematical objects remains under debate. In this paper, we theoretically oppose internalist approaches that claim mental entities as the endpoints of process–object transitions and externalist approaches that stress mathematical artifacts—such as physical manipulatives and formulas—as constituting mathematical objects. We search for a view on process–object duality that overcomes the dualism of mind and body. One such approach is commognition that describes mathematical objects as discursive entities. This paper expands the nature of mathematical objects beyond discourse and highlights the role of learners’ interaction with the environment by adopting ecological onto-epistemology. We develop a functional dynamic systems perspective on process–object duality in mathematics learning emphasizing embodied actions and the re-invention of artifacts’ affordances. As a main result, we reconsider process–object duality as a reification of repetitive actions into a cultural artifact that consists of two steps: (1) forming a new sensory-motor coordination that brings new perception to the fore and (2) crystallizing a new artifact in a mathematical environment that captures this new perception. An empirical example from research on embodied action-based design for trigonometry illustrates our theoretical ideas.Graphical abstract

La interacción entre contexto social y método científico: implicancias epistemológicas.

Abstract: This paper examines the interaction between the sociocultural environment and scientific progress om an epistemological perspective. It analyzes how exogenous factors, beyond the inherent logical foundations, permeate research work. The study contrasts the internalist tradition, which prioritizes conceptual aspects, with the externalist approach,which contemplates social, political and economic conditioning factors. A critical scrutiny of historical cases shows the reciprocal influences between society and science. Although the scientific community applies rigorous intersubjective controls, it is not exempt from contextual biases. Consequently, a reflexive epistemological perspective is proposed that combines situated knowledge with notions of relative objectivity. This raises important questions: To what extent does science transcend the conditioning factors of its environment to achieve objectivity? How can we discern the validity of scientific findings linked to social interests? A comprehensive understanding of science demands a balance between constructive skepticism about one’s own assumptions and reasonable confidence in solid empirical evidence. Therefore, a critical but open view is required that recognizes contextual limitations and the capacity of science to transcend them through rigorous methods and the inquiry of objective knowledge. This paper seeks to contribute to this epistemological reflection by investigating the complex intertwining of science and society. Keywords: Social context, scientific method, epistemology.

Three Decades of Gerontology in Türkiye: Historical Foundations, Multidisciplinary Growth, and Future Horizons

The history of science is a field that not only outlines the chronological progression of studies across various disciplines but also reveals the social, historical, and economic developments that led to the emergence and growth of these fields. It involves both the compilation of research in different areas and the evaluation of the historical conditions that interact with these studies. Although Gerontology in Türkiye has included numerous struggles and noteworthy developments over the past 30 years, there are still few studies that assess this brief period. This paper will examine the phenomenon of demographic change in Türkiye, utilizing a combination of externalist approaches to the history of science, addressing the past, present, and future of gerontology. By nature, the mission of science to improve human life quality and clarify the contextual frameworks surrounding human beings has triggered the birth and rapid development of gerontology after these transformations. Understanding and shaping these phenomena related to aging and old age from a gerontological perspective may serve as an effective key to achieving goals such as improved quality of life, social integration, productivity, and sustainable development.

The economics of cognitive institutions: mapping debates, looking ahead

Abstract In the philosophy of mind and cognitive science, there is a pronounced paradigm shift associated with the transition from internalism to externalism. The externalist paradigm views cognitive processes as not isolated in the brain, but as interrelated with external artefacts and structures. The paper focuses on one of the leading externalist approaches – extended cognition. Despite the dominance of internalism in economics, in its main schools, there is an emerging trend towards extended cognition ideas. In my opinion, economists might develop the most advanced version of the extended cognition approach: socially extended cognition based on cognitive institutions. This paper analyses extended cognition ideas in institutional, Austrian, and behavioural economics and identifies numerous overlapping approaches and complementary research areas. I argue that the economics of cognitive institutions is a promising field for all economic schools and propose a preliminary research agenda.

The possibilities of disruption: Serendipity, accidents and impasse driven search

This article challenges the traditional view of progress as a linear trajectory from ignorance to knowledge, arguing that creative cognition involves an extended and dynamic system of non linear possibility generation. It emphasises the importance of an externalist approach which takes into account the role of objects in the environment in shaping cognition. Accidents are seen as a key trigger for creative thinking, as they disrupt planned cognitive trajectories and introduce novel elements into the cognitive ecosystem, leading to new possibilities that were previously inconceivable. However, how we filter these opportunities is rarely explored. The feeling of impasse, when problem-solvers are stuck and unable to find a solution, is also explored as an important generative state for creativity. While this state may be unpleasant, research suggests that persevering through it can lead to a sense of ‘aha’ and may be actively sought out by creatives. The article concludes that further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between aversive states, chance and human imagination in order to understand creative thinking.

Divide and Rule? Why Ethical Proliferation is not so Wrong for Technology Ethics

Although the map of technology ethics is expanding, the growing subdomains within it may raise misgivings. In a recent and very interesting article, Sætra and Danaher have argued that the current dynamic of sub-specialization is harmful to the ethics of technology. In this commentary, we offer three reasons to diminish their concern about ethical proliferation. We argue first that the problem of demarcation is weakened if we attend to other sub-disciplines of technology ethics not mentioned by these authors. We claim secondly that the logic of sub-specializations is less problematic if one does adopt mixed models (combining internalist and externalist approaches) in applied ethics. We finally reject that clarity and distinction are necessary conditions for defining sub-fields within ethics of technology, defending the porosity and constructive nature of ethical disciplines.

Podgotovka i obsuzhdenie reformy po latinizacii russkogo alfavita v 1929–1930 gg.

The purpose of the study is to analyze the history of the project of the Russian alphabet latinization, actively developed in late 1929 and early 1930s by a specially formed Subcommittee attached to Glavnauka of the People's Commissariat of Education. First and foremost, the study considers the latinisation project significance that its initiators believed in in accordance with the tasks set by the Soviet government. The review of soviet citizens proposals submitted to the Subcommittee is also provided. The main attention is paid to the analysis of letters from various persons to the Subcommittee with proposals on this issue. The study was conducted on the basis of the externalist approach, which recognizes the dependence of science on the external environment development the social needs of society, the authorities' order, etc.

О совместимости деонтологизма с умеренным экстернализмом в теории эпистемического обоснования: решение М. Бергмана

В статье рассматриваются альтернативные способы эпистемологической концептуализации обоснования, заданные в парадигмах интернализма и экстернализма, и анализируется их соотношение с принципами эпистемического деонтологизма. Производится реконструкция и анализ аргументов эпистемолога М. Бергмана, посредством которых демонстрируется, что в рамках комплексной экспозиции системно-интегрального фактора обращения истинных убеждений в знание деонтологическую обоснованность убеждений можно представить как подусловие более фундаментального условия исключения дефиторов - факторов, подрывающих убеждения, что дает достаточное основание для утверждения совместимости эпистемического деонтологизма с принципами экстерналистского подхода в теории обоснования. The paper considers alternative ways of conceptualizing justification from the paradigmatic perspectives of internalism and externalism and reveals their relation to the principles of epistemic deontologism. The research is focused in the reconstruction and analysis of the arguments elaborated by the epistemologist M. Bergman in order to demonstrate that the deontological justification condition can be conceptualized as being entailed by some internal version of the Non-Defeater condition and thus combined with the principles of the externalist approach within the framework of the general theory of the warrant - the system-integral factor of converting true beliefs into knowledge.

Dasgupta's Detonation

Dasgupta's Detonation

Externalist argument against medical assistance in dying for psychiatric illness

Medical assistance in dying, which includes voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide, is legally permissible in a number of jurisdictions, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. Although medical assistance in...

Идентификация действий как фактор приписывания моральной ответственности

In this paper I analyse some theoretical problems with identification of actions as concrete events which possess certain features. I show that the result of such identification can be a significant factor in attributing moral responsibility to an agent. In the first two sections I explore the problem of tracing the boundaries of actions in space and time and the theoreti­cal option that actions can have spatial and temporal parts. In the third section I explore three approaches to what are the features of actions that allow distinguishing them from all other types of events and from each other. Such features can be defined as: the presence of an agent; the presence of a control over agent’s body movements, taking into account their accessible alternatives and their possible consequences; the presence of an agent’s in­tentional state that precedes or accompanies the performance of certain body movements. In the light of these possible factors for identifying actions, in the third part of the article I show the features of internalist and externalist approaches to the concept of action. I draw a conclusion that possession of justification which is required for identifying actions by these approaches turns out to be so problematic in practice, that it makes reasonable to as­sign moral responsibility on the basis of a naive approach that identifies actions with move­ments of the agent’s body.

Fragmented Pragmatism: On Sungmoon Kim’s Pragmatic Confucian Democracy

Fragmented Pragmatism: On Sungmoon Kim’s Pragmatic Confucian Democracy

Love as Origin of Science

Summary The approaches to the possibility of theology as science are divided roughly into three types: first, the internalist approach which rejects any attempt to verify the objective validity of revelation under the general concept of science. Second, the externalist approach which demands the verification of objective validity of revelatory truth. Third, the inclusivist approach which seeks the scientificity of theology from a hermeneutic perspective. Outlining the crucial points and limits of these approaches and replacing the question about theology as science with a theological reexamination of the possibility of science in general, this paper tries to suggest an alternative approach by establishing the possibility of scientific knowledge in general from the trinitarian perspective. Under this reformulation of the question, the philosophy of science set forth by Fichte as the most rigorous model of theory of science is critically explored. In conclusion, it is argued that the ultimate ground of all human knowledge and science consists in the eternal divine love and trust in it.

Inductive general grammar

General-linguistic datasets that have become available in recent years promise to enable new progress toward a theory of general grammar. A barrier to success is the incompatibility between the inductive, externalist approach that is natural for exploiting the datasets and the deductive, mentalist philosophy that is currently dominant within linguistics. I argue that the externalist philosophy is viable and that there are reasons to consider it preferable. I argue that the mainstream approach is in some cases unnecessarily concerned with psychological reality, and in other cases too quick to reject required subtheories on the grounds that they belong to “language processing” rather than linguistics, with the result that current grammars give systematically inaccurate answers to questions of the linguistic status of sentences. I suggest that the inductive development of general grammar is already being carried out (though not in those terms) in the field of natural language processing, and that linguistic participation in the effort would be of benefit to both fields.