OPAQUE AND TRANSLUCENT EPISTEMIC DEPENDENCE IN COLLABORATIVE SCIENTIFIC PRACTICE

Episteme ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susann Wagenknecht
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Field Observation ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Gray Zone ◽  
Epistemic Dependence ◽  
Dependence Relations ◽  
Scientific Labor

AbstractThis paper offers an analytic perspective on epistemic dependence that is grounded in theoretical discussion and field observation at the same time. When in the course of knowledge creation epistemic labor is divided, collaborating scientists come to depend upon one another epistemically. Since instances of epistemic dependence are multifarious in scientific practice, I propose to distinguish between two different forms of epistemic dependence, opaque and translucent epistemic dependence. A scientist is opaquely dependent upon a colleague if she does not possess the expertise necessary to independently carry out, and to profoundly assess, the piece of scientific labor which her colleague is contributing. If the scientist does possess the necessary expertise, I argue, her dependence is translucent. However, the distinction between opaque and translucent epistemic dependence does not exhaust dependence relations in scientific practice, because many dependence relations are neither entirely opaque nor translucent. I will discuss why this is the case, and show how we can make sense of the gray zone between opaque and translucent epistemic dependence.

scholarly journals An Evaluation of the Changing Nature of Power-Dependence Relations in Organizations Within the Context of the Resource Dependence Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 165-179
Author(s):  
AHMET ILHAN
Keyword(s):  
Resource Dependence ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
Resource Dependence Theory ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Power Dependence ◽  
Dependence Relations ◽  
Dependence Theory ◽  
Power And Dependence ◽  
The Relationship

Resource dependence theory examines the activities carried out by locating and managing power and dependence relations, that form as a result of the relations between organizations, according to the conditional changes in the environment in which they operate. However, organizations need to develop strategies and act according to environmental changes in order to sustain their maintain their survival in their environment. At this point, within the context of resource dependence theory, on the basis of the relationship between an organization and its environment, the balance of power-based relations are crucial within the scope of their dependence on necessary resources and the struggle to obtain these resources. The main problem of this study is to consider the changing nature of power-dependence relations between organizations within the context of resource dependence theory. The theoretical discussion of power-dependence relations between organizations has been supported and explained by functional, structural, and institutional approaches. Resource dependence theory is included in functional approaches and considers an organization as a social system that tries to adapt to the conditional constraints of its environment. Accordingly, the organizations of resource dependence theory included in functional approaches are determined according to how much their performances contribute to their survival, their ability to solve organizational problems, and coalitions with various abilities and interest groups. Keywords: Resource Dependence Theory, Power, Dependence, Environment, Organization.

Sustaining Organizational Innovativeness

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannu Kivijärvi ◽  
Kalle Piirainen ◽  
Markku Tuominen
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Personal Knowledge ◽  
Conceptual Basis ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Organizational Innovativeness ◽  
Knowledge Convergence ◽  
Knowledge Creation And Sharing

This paper aims to provide a conceptual basis for creating semi-virtual communities that facilitate knowledge creation and sharing that seeks to promote organizational innovativeness. In addition, based on the theoretical discussion, the paper proposes a concrete context that supports and stimulates the conversion of personal knowledge into new innovations and organizational decisions. As a methodological means, scenario driven innovation process is employed as a way to enhance creativity and knowledge convergence within an organization. The authors discuss that in its deepest sense knowledge is the capability to make decisions. Scenarios aim to increase that capability, and are thus a piece of organizational knowledge. The practical implementations of the contexts and the experiences with these implementations are evaluated by two real case studies in real life contexts.

Alexander Catcott: Glory and Geology

1977 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Neve ◽  
Roy Porter
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Field Observation ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Empirical Observation ◽  
Regional Geology ◽  
Important Phenomenon ◽  
Rock Formations

Central to the development of geology has been the growth of systematic empirical observation as a programme of scientific practice. Fieldwork has focused on many objects—strata, fossils, and landforms—and has issued in a variety of products, such as maps, sections, and monographs on regional geology, particular rock formations and fossils. Early in the nineteenth century, above all, many influential geologists sought to define their science as one exclusively of field observation, description, and the accumulation of data. The rise of fieldwork, in Britain as elsewhere, is an important phenomenon in the making of geology. It must be explained.

Unusual Microstructure in Shock-Compacted Graphite

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 474-475
Author(s):  
Lucien F. Trueb
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Characteristic ◽  
Compression Wave ◽  
Gray Zone ◽  
Flyer Plate ◽  
Compacted Graphite ◽  
The Impact

Crushed and statically compressed Madagascar graphite that was explosively shocked at 425 kb by means of a planar flyer-plate is characterized by a black zone extending for 2 to 3 nun below the impact plane of the driver. Beyond this point, the material assumes the normal gray color of graphite. The thickness of the black zone is identical with the distance taken by the relaxation wave to overtake the compression wave.The main mechanical characteristic of the black material is its great hardness; steel scalpels and razor blades are readily blunted during attempts to cut it. An average microhardness value of 95-3 DPHN was obtained with a 10 kg load. This figure is a minimum because the indentations were usually cracked; 14.8 DPHN was measured in the gray zone.

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