Theory, Knowledge and Science Commons^™

Desarrollo Cientifico Tecnologico Y Universidades, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

The paper shows how scientific and technological activities are embodied at universities in emegent peripheric countries and regions.

La Construccion Social Del Cientifico, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

The interview-based paper describes structures and mechanisms which link market, State and the university, in order to explain, in principle, what a scientist is meant to be in Chile. By analysing four communities (astronomers, molecular biologists, sociologists, and communication scientists), it attempts to uncover the social and cultural reasons why there are these scientific communities with patent social and intellectual identity; latent but constituted identities, evolving; and communities in path-searching definable identity. Reinforcing a utilitarian historical relationship between university and society, and exacerbated by Neo-liberalism, these structures and mechanisms have been precipitated during the last 20 years. Finally, the paper …

Hamadryas Visual Identification Guide, David W. Markman

David W Markman

No abstract provided.

Diabolical Frivolity Of Neoliberal Fundamentalism, Sefik Tatlic

Sefik Tatlic

Today, we cannot talk just about plain control, but we must talk about the nature of the interaction of the one who is being controlled and the one who controls, an interaction where the one that is “controlled” is asking for more control over himself/herself while expecting to be compensated by a surplus of freedom to satisfy trivial needs and wishes. Such a liberty for the fulfillment of trivial needs is being declared as freedom. But this implies as well the freedom to choose not to be engaged in any kind of socially sensible or politically articulated struggle.

Una Discusión En Torno A La Verdad En Ciencias Y Humanidades, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

No abstract provided.

Free-Will And Determinism: A Debate In Sociology, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

No abstract provided.

El Principio Socioantropico: La Conexión Libertad-Determinismo Y Una Nueva Estructura Explicativa Para Las Ciencias Sociales, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

No abstract provided.

The Epistemic Transformation On The Relationship Between Power & Truth In Sociological Theory After May 1968, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

No abstract provided.

La Complejidad En Ciencias Sociales: ¿Tema Matemático, Filosófico, Científico O Jerga Posmoderna?, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

No abstract provided.

Formalismo, Sistemismo Y Explicación, Jorge Gibert-Galassi

jorge gibert-galassi

This essay discusses three axioms of sociopoietic theory from the point of view of philosophy of social science. The first axiom, its de-ontologised character, it is associated to theory formalism and it allows to question the validity of a factual theory that do not presuppose the reality. The second one, allow to discuss the pertinence of the social system concept adopted by the sociopoietic view. Finally, argue that a theory about something it is not possible without having an explanation about this "something", and it is asked how an epistemology of the event can acquired content excluding the radical determinism …

In Defence Of Exploitation, Justin Schwartz

Justin Schwartz

The concept of exploitation is thought to be central to Marx's Critique of capitalism. John Roemer, an analytical (then-) Marxist economist now at Yale, attacked this idea in a series of papers and books in the 1970s-1990s, arguing that Marxists should be concerned with inequality rather than exploitation -- with distribution rather than production, precisely the opposite of what Marx urged in The Critique of the Gotha Progam.

This paper expounds and criticizes Roemer's objections and his alternative inequality based theory of exploitation, while accepting some of his criticisms. It may be viewed as a companion paper to my What's …

The Paradox Of Ideology, Justin Schwartz

Justin Schwartz

A standard problem with the objectivity of social scientific theory in particular is that it is either self-referential, in which case it seems to undermine itself as ideology, or self-excepting, which seem pragmatically self-refuting. Using the example of Marx and his theory of ideology, I show how self-referential theories that include themselves in their scope of explanation can be objective. Ideology may be roughly defined as belief distorted by class interest. I show how Marx thought that natural science was informed by class interest but not therefore necessarily ideology. Capitalists have an interest in understanding the natural world (to a …

Functional Explanation And Metaphysical Individualism, Justin Schwartz

Justin Schwartz

A number of (present or former) analytical Marxists, such as Jon Elster, have argued that functional explanation has almost no place in the social sciences. (Although the discussion is framed in terms of a debate among analytical Marxists, the point is quite general, and Marxism is used for illustrative purposes.) Functional explanation accounts for what is to be explained by reference to its function; thus, sighted organism have eyes because eyes enable them to see. Elster and other critics of functional explanation argue that this pattern of explanation is inconsistent with "methodological individualism," the idea, as they understand it, that …