Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science

Nathalie Gontier

Samenvatting

When logical empiricism and physicalism failed to unambiguously create a language that would enable us to put into words the facts of the universe, two totally different reactions came (Gontier, 2006a). One goes by the name of a sociology of knowledge, and eventually lead to relativism, deconstructivism and sometimes nihilism. The other was naturalized epistemology that evolved into evolutionary epistemology. Both sociology of knowledge and evolutionary epistemology are, in a way, scientistic, in that they claim that their methodology and theirs alone, will give us the answers to the proper questions asked. They differ however in that the former turns its back to anything more than unravelling hidden cultural and theory laden concepts that potentially cause biases in scientific theory, while the latter wants nothing less than the development of a scientific language based on evolutionary theory that can unite all the sciences. Today, evolutionary epistemology (Gontier, 2006b, 2006c) is being applied in the study of (aspects of) cognition, knowledge, language, culture, economics, immunology and evolutionary biology (e.g. Cziko, 1995). Although not initially developed as a field to unite the different sciences, quite on the contrary: EE can be seen as part of the emancipatory move of the sciences, away from a first philosophy, today, it is doing just that and therefore its potential and shortcomings for this job need to be examined. Therefore, it will be investigated by the author how exactly it is that evolutionary epistemology could and could not fulfil Neuraths goal.

References

Cziko, G. 1995. Without miracles: Universal selection theory and the second Darwinian revolution. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press.
Gontier, N. 2006a. Introduction to evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. In N. Gontier, J.P. Van Bendegem & D. Aerts (Eds), Evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. Dordrecht: Springer. 129. [Theory and decision library, Series A vol. 39, Series editor: Julian NIDARUMELIN.]
Gontier, N. 2006b. Evolutionary Epistemology. The internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/evoepis.htm
Gontier, N. 2006c. Introducing universal symbiogenesis, The first Lisbon colloquium on the unity of science, Lisbon, 2006.

Originele taal-2	English
Titel	Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui
Redacteuren	N. De Courtenay
Uitgeverij	la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland
Pagina's	36-37
Aantal pagina's	2
Status	Published - 29 mrt 2007
Evenement	Unknown - Stockholm, Sweden Duur: 21 sep 2009 → 25 sep 2009

Publicatie series

Naam	Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui

Conference

Conference	Unknown
Land/Regio	Sweden
Stad	Stockholm
Periode	21/09/09 → 25/09/09

Bibliografische nota

N. de Courtenay

Toegang tot document

http://www.sps.ens.fr/activites/2007-2econgres/CongresSPS-Prgm.pdf

Deuxième congrès de la societé de philosophie des sciences
Nathalie Gontier (Speaker)
29 mrt 2007 → 31 mrt 2007
Activiteit: Talk or presentation at a conference

Citeer dit

Gontier, N. (2007). Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science. In N. D. Courtenay (editor), Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui (blz. 36-37). (Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui). la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland. http://www.sps.ens.fr/activites/2007-2econgres/CongresSPS-Prgm.pdf

Gontier, Nathalie. / Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science. Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui. redacteur / N. De Courtenay. la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland, 2007. blz. 36-37 (Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui).

@inbook{f3af8e8d546d4a288b73d0c83fac8913,

title = "Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science",

abstract = "When logical empiricism and physicalism failed to unambiguously create a language that would enable us to put into words the facts of the universe, two totally different reactions came (Gontier, 2006a). One goes by the name of a sociology of knowledge, and eventually lead to relativism, deconstructivism and sometimes nihilism. The other was naturalized epistemology that evolved into evolutionary epistemology. Both sociology of knowledge and evolutionary epistemology are, in a way, scientistic, in that they claim that their methodology and theirs alone, will give us the answers to the proper questions asked. They differ however in that the former turns its back to anything more than unravelling hidden cultural and theory laden concepts that potentially cause biases in scientific theory, while the latter wants nothing less than the development of a scientific language based on evolutionary theory that can unite all the sciences. Today, evolutionary epistemology (Gontier, 2006b, 2006c) is being applied in the study of (aspects of) cognition, knowledge, language, culture, economics, immunology and evolutionary biology (e.g. Cziko, 1995). Although not initially developed as a field to unite the different sciences, quite on the contrary: EE can be seen as part of the emancipatory move of the sciences, away from a first philosophy, today, it is doing just that and therefore its potential and shortcomings for this job need to be examined. Therefore, it will be investigated by the author how exactly it is that evolutionary epistemology could and could not fulfil Neuraths goal. References Cziko, G. 1995. Without miracles: Universal selection theory and the second Darwinian revolution. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press. Gontier, N. 2006a. Introduction to evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. In N. Gontier, J.P. Van Bendegem & D. Aerts (Eds), Evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. Dordrecht: Springer. 129. [Theory and decision library, Series A vol. 39, Series editor: Julian NIDARUMELIN.] Gontier, N. 2006b. Evolutionary Epistemology. The internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/evoepis.htm Gontier, N. 2006c. Introducing universal symbiogenesis, The first Lisbon colloquium on the unity of science, Lisbon, 2006.",

keywords = "unity of science, evolutionary epistemology",

author = "Nathalie Gontier",

note = "N. de Courtenay; Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet ; Conference date: 21-09-2009 Through 25-09-2009",

year = "2007",

month = mar,

day = "29",

language = "English",

series = "Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unit{\'e} des sciences aujourd'hui",

publisher = "la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland",

pages = "36--37",

editor = "Courtenay, {N. De}",

booktitle = "Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unit{\'e} des sciences aujourd'hui",

}

Gontier, N 2007, Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science. in ND Courtenay (redactie), Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui. Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui, la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland, blz. 36-37, Unknown, Stockholm, Sweden, 21/09/09. <http://www.sps.ens.fr/activites/2007-2econgres/CongresSPS-Prgm.pdf>

Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science. / Gontier, Nathalie.

Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui. redactie / N. De Courtenay. la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland, 2007. blz. 36-37 (Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui).

Onderzoeksoutput: Meeting abstract (Book)

TY - CHAP

T1 - Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science

AU - Gontier, Nathalie

N1 - N. de Courtenay

PY - 2007/3/29

Y1 - 2007/3/29

N2 - When logical empiricism and physicalism failed to unambiguously create a language that would enable us to put into words the facts of the universe, two totally different reactions came (Gontier, 2006a). One goes by the name of a sociology of knowledge, and eventually lead to relativism, deconstructivism and sometimes nihilism. The other was naturalized epistemology that evolved into evolutionary epistemology. Both sociology of knowledge and evolutionary epistemology are, in a way, scientistic, in that they claim that their methodology and theirs alone, will give us the answers to the proper questions asked. They differ however in that the former turns its back to anything more than unravelling hidden cultural and theory laden concepts that potentially cause biases in scientific theory, while the latter wants nothing less than the development of a scientific language based on evolutionary theory that can unite all the sciences. Today, evolutionary epistemology (Gontier, 2006b, 2006c) is being applied in the study of (aspects of) cognition, knowledge, language, culture, economics, immunology and evolutionary biology (e.g. Cziko, 1995). Although not initially developed as a field to unite the different sciences, quite on the contrary: EE can be seen as part of the emancipatory move of the sciences, away from a first philosophy, today, it is doing just that and therefore its potential and shortcomings for this job need to be examined. Therefore, it will be investigated by the author how exactly it is that evolutionary epistemology could and could not fulfil Neuraths goal. References Cziko, G. 1995. Without miracles: Universal selection theory and the second Darwinian revolution. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press. Gontier, N. 2006a. Introduction to evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. In N. Gontier, J.P. Van Bendegem & D. Aerts (Eds), Evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. Dordrecht: Springer. 129. [Theory and decision library, Series A vol. 39, Series editor: Julian NIDARUMELIN.] Gontier, N. 2006b. Evolutionary Epistemology. The internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/evoepis.htm Gontier, N. 2006c. Introducing universal symbiogenesis, The first Lisbon colloquium on the unity of science, Lisbon, 2006.

AB - When logical empiricism and physicalism failed to unambiguously create a language that would enable us to put into words the facts of the universe, two totally different reactions came (Gontier, 2006a). One goes by the name of a sociology of knowledge, and eventually lead to relativism, deconstructivism and sometimes nihilism. The other was naturalized epistemology that evolved into evolutionary epistemology. Both sociology of knowledge and evolutionary epistemology are, in a way, scientistic, in that they claim that their methodology and theirs alone, will give us the answers to the proper questions asked. They differ however in that the former turns its back to anything more than unravelling hidden cultural and theory laden concepts that potentially cause biases in scientific theory, while the latter wants nothing less than the development of a scientific language based on evolutionary theory that can unite all the sciences. Today, evolutionary epistemology (Gontier, 2006b, 2006c) is being applied in the study of (aspects of) cognition, knowledge, language, culture, economics, immunology and evolutionary biology (e.g. Cziko, 1995). Although not initially developed as a field to unite the different sciences, quite on the contrary: EE can be seen as part of the emancipatory move of the sciences, away from a first philosophy, today, it is doing just that and therefore its potential and shortcomings for this job need to be examined. Therefore, it will be investigated by the author how exactly it is that evolutionary epistemology could and could not fulfil Neuraths goal. References Cziko, G. 1995. Without miracles: Universal selection theory and the second Darwinian revolution. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press. Gontier, N. 2006a. Introduction to evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. In N. Gontier, J.P. Van Bendegem & D. Aerts (Eds), Evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. Dordrecht: Springer. 129. [Theory and decision library, Series A vol. 39, Series editor: Julian NIDARUMELIN.] Gontier, N. 2006b. Evolutionary Epistemology. The internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy. http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/evoepis.htm Gontier, N. 2006c. Introducing universal symbiogenesis, The first Lisbon colloquium on the unity of science, Lisbon, 2006.

KW - unity of science, evolutionary epistemology

M3 - Meeting abstract (Book)

T3 - Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui

SP - 36

EP - 37

BT - Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui

A2 - Courtenay, N. De

PB - la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland

T2 - Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet

Y2 - 21 September 2009 through 25 September 2009

ER -

Gontier N. Evolutionry epistemology and the unity of science. In Courtenay ND, redacteur, Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui. la societe de philosophie des sciences, geneve, switserland. 2007. blz. 36-37. (Deuxieme congres de la societe de philosophie des sciences: la question de l'unité des sciences aujourd'hui).