Field Of Epistemology Research Articles

Thinking Problems

Thinking Problems

An Interview with Miranda Fricker

Miranda Fricker’s research carefully negotiates the fields of ethics and epistemology, and the places and points where they overlap and intersect. Her 2007 text Epistemic injustice: Power and the ethics of knowing is particularly noteworthy in this regard. It seamlessly integrates these research areas and, in so doing, turns a critical eye on the common assumption that feminist epistemology, characterized by its focus on the role of gender oppression within knowledge practices, is a marginal field of social epistemology. Fricker challenges her readers to consider the thesis that social and feminist epistemologies are more thoroughly interconnected than is traditionally assumed.

“Two Types of Wisdom”

The concept of wisdom is largely ignored by contemporary philosophers. But given recent movements in the fields of ethics and epistemology, the time is ripe for a return to this concept. This article lays some groundwork for further philosophical work in ethics and epistemology on wisdom. Its focus is the distinction between practical wisdom and theoretical wisdom or between phronesis and sophia. Several accounts of this distinction are considered and rejected. A more plausible, but also considerably more complex, account is offered. The discussion sheds light on the relation between practical wisdom and theoretical wisdom, and on the positive character of each.

Of what field of journalism are we talking about?

Pensar o campo do jornalismo como possuidor ou não de um estatuto científico próprio, menos ou mais dependente de arcabouços conceituais, metodológicos e teóricos de outros campos das ciências sociais e humanas, vem tornando-se, nos últimos anos no Brasil, uma questão de destaque na rotina acadêmica. As tentativas de demarcação desse campo científico como autônomo, porém, parecem ignorar as reflexões epistemológicas sobre o campo maior no qual está inserido, o da Comunicação. Este trabalho pretende analisar diferentes conceitos de campo empregados nesse debate, com críticas a impasses colocados (a) pelo uso indiscriminado desses conceitos e (b) pelo equívoco em reduzir o objeto de estudo do Jornalismo à prática da profissão ou em promover a fragmentação de seu objeto.

Thinking about the government: making politics of life and of extermination

In this article we discuss the conceptions of government in Michel Foucault’s and Giogio Agamben’s work, from the epistemological field of Psychology. Our proposal is a theoretical debate which problematizes the similitude and the difference between both authors, mainly at the biopolitics and government issues. From this discussion, we conclude that life and death become objects of government, and that, due to this, all politics becomes a sort of object of biology as well. Thus, talking about public policies is to talk about how the population must be governed, previously planned or calculated. Therefore, to problematize, to discuss and to analyze what are public policies, to what and to whom they are directed, leads us to the question, ultimately, about the problem of government and of biopolitics which in turn, manage ways of living and of dying.

Thinking about the government: making politics of life and of extermination

In this article we discuss the conceptions of government in Michel Foucault’s and Giogio Agamben’s work, from the epistemological field of Psychology. Our proposal is a theoretical debate which problematizes the similitude and the difference between both authors, mainly at the biopolitics and government issues. From this discussion, we conclude that life and death become objects of government, and that, due to this, all politics becomes a sort of object of biology as well. Thus, talking about public policies is to talk about how the population must be governed, previously planned or calculated. Therefore, to problematize, to discuss and to analyze what are public policies, to what and to whom they are directed, leads us to the question, ultimately, about the problem of government and of biopolitics which in turn, manage ways of living and of dying.

UMA EXEGESE DE ALGUNS MÉTODOS DO PENSAMENTO FILOSÓFICO E CIENTÍFICO: PROPONDO UMA METODOLOGIA EXISTENCIAL

No campo epistemológico clássico, o objetivo do método era alcançar a verdade. A correspondência entre o ideado e o real – conceito clássico de verdade – deu lugar, na contemporaneidade, a um esforço por construir um modelo que represente ou explique a realidade. Dela conhecemos apenas o fenômeno. Ainda que do ponto de vista filosófico, admita-se que o conhecimento é uma probabilidade e nunca uma certeza, observa-se, na prática acadêmica e profissional da Administração e de outras áreas, uma tendência de o ser humano fixar-se em dogmas, de natureza religiosa, filosófica ou científica. Após a revisão de alguns métodos, o presente artigo realiza uma interpretação destes métodos e os ordena com base em uma proposta de metodologia existencial, aquela que leva em consideração que o cientista é também objeto do e no evento. Propõe-se uma metodologia que faça da dúvida metódica um exercício constante de busca pela verdade, o que permitirá a construção de sistemas abertos sem perder a vantagem da organização sistemática do conhecimento. Conclui-se pela superioridade do trabalho em equipe sobre o trabalho individual e recomenda-se o exercício de atividades profissionais e de ensino em duplas ou grupos que permitam a avaliação contínua dos processos realizados.

Forging an Environmental Rationality for a Sustainable Future

Enrique Leff is a philosopher and environmentalist from Mexico who focuses his work on fields of epistemology, the political ecology, and environmental education. His work has inspired many and he has continued to educate the public in Mexico as well as internationally through his involvement with the United Nations Environment Program.

O agenda-setting no Brasil: contradições entre o sucesso e os limites epistemológicos

Com a efervescência dos estudos em jornalismo, as constantes críticas e os sucessivos esforços de se delimitar epistemológica e metodologicamente a área, o presente artigo coloca em discussão os trabalhos sobre o agenda-setting, ou do agendamento da mídia, questionando o sucesso que a abordagem alcançou nacionalmente. A partir de uma análise empírica, com base em papers apresentados nos principais fóruns das ciências da comunicação no Brasil, examinamos como essa tradição é reapropriada pelos pesquisadores brasileiros, quais as metodologias usadas e se há acúmulo de conhecimento.

Idealistic and Realistic Typology of Peace

Multiple perspectives can be brought to bear on the concept of peace: political, cultural, religious, sociological, psychological, or philosophical. Every attempt to describe the concept of peace narrows its meaning to the concrete terms of a particular humanistic or scientific discipline, simultaneously subjectively reducing that term. This status quo raises difficulties related to the epistemological field of peace research. One consequence of these complications is to call into question the name of the field itself. The term ―peace research‖ is strictly descriptive—that is, it describes the area of research, but does not precisely identify its object. In contrast, the names of detailed sciences, like psychology and sociology, which are built upon academic tradition, synthetically set forth their object of research. Questions should be asked concerning the roots of the difficulties in finding an adequate and unequivocal name for the overall field of peace research, one that would simultaneously call attention to the interdisciplinary nature of that research. The problem of identifying a homogeneous domain of study is a result of the complex and multifaceted character of peace research, which is considered supradisciplinary.

Ocupación Humana y la práctica de los terapeutas ocupacionales en la Amazônia en Pará: una perspectiva fenomenológica.

This paper aims to understand the meaning that occupational therapists attribute to occupations andthe relationships they build with their professional practices. This is a qualitative phenomenologicalorientation that combines theoretical and practical knowledge of the science of occupation andoccupational therapy. The participants were seventeen occupational therapists who work in care andeducation of occupational therapy linked to public service in the state of Pará, Brazil. It was observedthat each occupational therapist is researched and is planning its own occupational therapy, accordingto its area of operation, population served, their own beliefs and values, and perspectives and theoreticalpredictions. The subjects share the idea that occupations are constituents of human life, understandingthem to influence the health, quality of life and social participation of individuals, valuing structuredinterventions on what is meaningful, relevant and necessary for their patients. This research enabled thedevelopment of questions and reflections about the theoretical foundations and practical actions carriedout in the field of occupational therapy. It is believed that studies both in the epistemological field andin the clinical are required for the development of these dialogues, because sharing is the understandingthat the Brazilian occupational therapy, and particularly the development of occupational therapy inthe Amazon region is unique, and very contribute to the development of the profession on the regional,national and international.

The Question of Conscientiousness and Religious Engagement in Public Schools

In this paper, I examine the question of how to nurture and develop conscientiousness thinkers and future citizens of diverse liberal-democratic societies from the perspective of virtue epistemology (VE). More specifically, I examine this question in terms of how public schools might frame engagement with religious perspectives in the classroom. I begin by distinguishing between good and bad conscientiousness through an exploration of current work in the field of virtue epistemology. I then follow Kenneth Strike in his defense of the need for a more robust engagement with religious perspectives as a liberal educational imperative. I argue that basing a framework for engagement on VE, particularly the notion of subjective justification, has significant benefits. My main interest in developing a framework for what I deem to be a necessary supplemental dimension of citizenship education focused on religious engagement is in underlining the responsibility that liberal educators have in regulating what is often a highly contentious and unfortunately caddish debate surrounding religion and the religious. I conclude that by eschewing this responsibility educators are potentially missing out on significant resources for supporting the liberal-democratic educational agenda.

Crisis de la identidad en la sociedad de la información y la comunicación: hacia una crítica del yo contemporáneo

Resumen En este artículo aborda, desde múltiples miradas, el problema de la identidad en la sociedad de la información. Se tiene en cuenta el campo epistemológico de las ciencias sociales como un espacio interdisciplinario donde se generan diálogos entre la subjetivación, las manifestaciones artísticas y las teorías sobre el individuo y la sociedad de la información. Finalmente, se hace una revisión crítica del yo en su relación de alteridad. ade. Palavras chave Identidade, indivíduo, sociedade da informação.

Crisis de la identidad en la sociedad de la información y la comunicación: hacia una crítica del yo contemporáneo

From several points of view, this paper addresses the problem of identity in the so called “society of information”. Thus, it takes into account the epistemological field of social sciences as an interdisciplinary space, where dialogues between the individual being, the various artistic expressions and the new theories about the human self and the information society, are generated. Finally, it proposes a critical review of the very concept of personal identity within the realm of its relations with the others.

Apuntes para una crítica de la racionalidad tecnocientífica desde el enfoque phronético

En el campo de la epistemología, la racionalidad tecnocientífica ha sido debatida y criticada desde el enfoque de los estudios Ciencia, Tecnología y Sociedad –CTS-, en cuanto a la regulación y desarrollo de la ciencia y la tecnología actuales. Se presenta en este trabajo la posibilidad de que el enfoque Phronético contribuya a la fundamentación de una crítica a la racionalidad tecnocientífica y a una orientación epistémica, para investigar en el campo de las ciencias sociales.

Configuração epistemológica da Ciência da Informação na literatura periódica Brasileira por meio de análise de citações (1972-2008)

Analisa a configuração epistemológica da Ciência da Informação (CI) com base na análise de citações da produção periódica brasileira da área. Da Base de Dados Referenciais de Artigos de Periódicos de Ciência da Informação (BRAPCI) seleciona 91 artigos que versam sobre Epistemologia da CI. Identifica os autores mais produtivos e procede à análises de citações. Representa graficamente a incidência de citações dos autores constituintes da base BRAPCI e dos teóricos basilares da Epistemologia e da CI que influenciaram a temática na literatura periódica nacional.

Neuro-cybernetics of socio-scientific systems

The field of information technology is broadened up to the domain of ‘learning’ systems and cybernetics. In covering this extension of the field due recourse is made to the epistemological basis of theory construction. When so comprehended, information technology becomes a philosophical inquiry on a variety of social, scientific and technological issues. A new idea that we refer to as neuro-cybernetics is born. The term neuro-cybernetics is used to delineate the epistemological field of system and cybernetic study. The above-mentioned phenomenological or the epistemic model of a cybernetic and system type is applied to flood control problem in Bangladesh. This example presents an application of the cybernetic model to a physico-human problem. This is the nature of socio-scientific system. In it, organically unifying relations occur between the environment and the human world, with the objective of controlling the perennial problem of floods by using interactive factors.

Judgement aggregation and distributed thinking

In recent years, judgement aggregation has emerged as an important area of social choice theory. Judgement aggregation is concerned with aggregating sets of individual judgements over logically connected propositions into a set of collective judgements. It has been shown that even seemingly weak conditions on the aggregation function make it impossible to find functions that produce rational collective judgements from all possible rational individual judgements. This implies that the step from individual judgements to collective judgements requires trade-offs between different desiderata, such as universal domain, rationality, epistemological quality, and unbiasedness. The typical application for judgement aggregation is the problem of group decision making. Juries and expert committees are the stock examples. However, the relevance of judgement aggregation goes beyond these cases. In this survey, I review some core results in the field of judgement aggregation and social epistemology and discuss their implications for the analysis of distributed thinking.

The Pleasures of Infanticide

A child is being beaten. I overhear something, or maybe I witness it. On the other side of the wall the scene unfolds in private: an adult, perhaps a father or a mother, and a child, a boy or a girl. On this side of the wall, another private scene—a debate I hold with myself. What am I hearing? (I must fi rst be able to interpret the sounds I hear, or the marks I see.) Do I intervene or not? What do I need to know in order to step in, or in order to decide not to? What tools does my judgment require? What are the practical bases on which the knowledge required for moral decisions stands? My scene is highly theatrical, but it is the theater that I will be discussing, for reasons I’ll hope to make clear. It’s also, despite the broad strokes and the troublingly common circumstances it describes, a specifi cally early-modern scene that I intend. Consider this a primarily disciplinary observation. It concerns the way in which we approach what might be called the study of (the genealogy of) decisions, in the ethical as well as the epistemological fi eld.

The foundations of neuroanthropology.

The foundations of neuroanthropology.