The rationality of science

Author: Fei Doyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: The problem of scientific rationality has long been a central and key issue explored in the philosophy of science. However, traditional concepts of scientific rationality clearly cannot encompass the rapidly evolving modern science. This book adopts an analytical perspective on value to review the evolutionary trends of scientific rationality, explore the meaning of rationality, and point out that rationality is an evaluative concept, expressing a rational relationship between reasons and standards. Since science is not merely a tool and means for human survival and development, but also constitutes a purpose of human existence and development itself, serving as a carrier of humanity's highest ideals, the author, grounded in human needs and interests, argues for the objective basis of scientific rationality. They propose evaluation criteria for the rationality of science as both a systematized and theoretical knowledge system and as a social activity of creating knowledge. The book focuses on analyzing evaluation factors from both the internal domain of science and from sociocultural perspectives, and further explores related practical implications to seek a more comprehensive meaning of scientific rationality. This book can serve as a reference for professional researchers and theoreticians, as a teaching material for graduate and undergraduate students, and also as an amateur reading for philosophy and science enthusiasts.