After "Naturalization of Epistemology"

Author: Zheng Xiangfu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: This book elaborates on the development trends and fundamental characteristics of contemporary Western philosophy of science. The author believes that the research in contemporary Western philosophy of science is entering an innovative period, forming several major turning points. The first turning point is the debate over the limitations of induction, leading from logical positivism to historicism; the second turning point is the debate over the nature of scientific theories, resulting in scientific realism versus anti-realism; the third turning point is the naturalization tendency in epistemology, sparking debates between naturalized and non-naturalized epistemology. Each of these turning points has critically questioned traditional theories, shifting the focus toward increasingly scientific research. As a result, the naturalization of epistemology has led it toward psychologism, closer integration with artificial intelligence research, and has become a foundation for AI studies. In the summarized characteristics, we can also see that traditional scientific epistemology is facing unprecedented challenges. Constructionism, pragmatism, naturalization tendencies, and sociological tendencies are replacing the pursuit of truth and the search for essence, transitioning to more descriptive and empirically-oriented research. Traditional epistemology is being replaced by cognitive science philosophy.