The Revolutionary Conservatism of Normal Science

2020 ◽  
pp. 167-160
Author(s):  
Evgeniy V. Maslanov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Normal Science ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Leading Position ◽  
Science Subject

The article analyzes the functioning of normal science. It has conservative fea­tures and implies the restriction of research practices to solving puzzle, rarely reflects on the ontological assumptions of its own paradigm. Such functioning of normal science allows it to solve a large number of various scientific and sci­entific-technical problems. As a result, normal science is developing quite rapidly. At the same time, revolutionary features can be distinguished in its func­tioning. They are associated with the struggle of each specific normal science for its position in the field of science, in the desire, through the dissemination of the results of its research beyond the scientific community and active participa­tion in the examination, to enlist the support of extra-scientific actors. Alliances with extra-scientific actors allow normal sciences to actively participate in the struggle for the redistribution of public attention and the financing of scientific research. With the help of such alliances, they are trying to introduce the results of their research into industry and public life. The success of such implementa­tions leads to an active redistribution of positions in the field of science. In this case, the revolutionary element of normal science is associated not with the de­sire to reconsider the fundamental ideas underlying it, but in the desire to rebuild the system of relations within the field of science, to take a leading position in it. As a result, it is concluded that the successful functioning of normal science is associated with the desire to make permanent micro-revolutions in the field of science, subject to a conservatively protective attitude to the fundamental as­sumptions of its own paradigm.

scholarly journals Rereading Normal Science

2003 ◽  
Vol 35 (105) ◽  
pp. 65-89
Author(s):  
Dimitri Ginev
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Analytic Philosophy ◽  
Normal Science ◽  
Philosophical Hermeneutics ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Puzzle Solving ◽  
Original Reading

This paper considers the relevance of a class of hermeneutic concepts to the philosophical reading of normal scientific research. The author opposes the view that the notion of "normal science" can only be read in socio-psychological, sociological or ethnomethodological terms. By drawing parallels between Kuhn's original reading of puzzle-solving enterprise and Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics, a context of "Continental theories" for interpreting the dynamics of research practices is delineated. The rereading of normal science provides the opportunity for developing a hermeneutic alternative to the analytic philosophy of science.

scholarly journals Failure of science, death of nature

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry F. Recher
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Market Place ◽  
The World ◽  
Ethical Responsibilities

As a people, Australians have lost contact with the world of nature, risking the collapse of civilisation. One factor in the alienation of nature in Australia is the failure of the scientific community to take responsibility for the technology created by the knowledge generated from scientific research. Science has failed to protect Australia’s flora and fauna. Scientists must communicate more widely with society, but need to be educated on how to communicate and on their ethical responsibilities to others and other species. Government needs to show leadership in environmental management and nature conservation, while conservationists need to ‘invert the paradigm’, taking a new, less anthropocentric approach to conservation. None of this is possible in a market-place economy and Australians must move to an economic system that is ecocentric. This will not be easy as it requires a reduction in the consumption of resources and a smaller population.

The Impact of Solar Winds on Navigation Aids

1999 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Sandford
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Remote Imaging ◽  
Solar Winds ◽  
New Information ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Impact

Recent developments in remote imaging equipment carried on satellites have given the scientific community a vast amount of new information about the Sun and its atmosphere. Media coverage of the remarkable discoveries accompanied by impressive images of the Sun's atmosphere, and linkage to the loss of a television satellite over the United States, have focused public attention on the existence and effects of the Solar Wind. This paper sets out to illustrate the impact of the Solar Wind on radio aids to navigation, and to look at the possible effects on present and proposed systems.

scholarly journals Владимир Платонович Сукачёв — меценат, общественный деятель, коллекционер, основатель Иркутского областного художественного музея

2021 ◽  
pp. 150-159
Author(s):  
B.S. Shostakovich ◽  
E.S. Zubri
Keyword(s):  
Public Life ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Art Museum ◽  
History Of

The article examines the significance of the personality and activities of Vladimir P. Sukachev in the history of public life and culture of Irkutsk. It emphasizes his role as the founder of the Irkutsk Art Museum, the initiator of many scientific research in Siberia and neighboring countries, an intellectual who created a unique example of a “cultural nest” in the Russian province. The main stages of the formation of the collection are presented, a number of the most significant works that make up its core are noted. The study uses a historical and biographical method based on archival sources. В статье рассматривается значение личности и деятельности Владимира Платоновича Сукачёва в истории общественной жизни и культуры Иркутска. Подчеркивается его роль как основателя Иркутского художественного музея, инициатора многих научных исследований Сибири и близлежащих стран, интеллектуала, создавшего уникальный образец «культурного гнезда» в российской провинции. Представлены основные этапы формирования коллекции, отмечен ряд наиболее значительных произведений, составляющих ее ядро. В исследовании использован историко-биографический метод с опорой на архивные источники.

scholarly journals Putting open science into practice: A social dilemma?

First Monday ◽  
2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaja Scheliga ◽  
Sascha Friesike
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Community ◽  
Social Dilemma ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Individual Scientist ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Opening Up

Digital technologies carry the promise of transforming science and opening up the research process. We interviewed researchers from a variety of backgrounds about their attitudes towards and experiences with openness in their research practices. We observe a considerable discrepancy between the concept of open science and scholarly reality. While many researchers support open science in theory, the individual researcher is confronted with various difficulties when putting open science into practice. We analyse the major obstacles to open science and group them into two main categories: individual obstacles and systemic obstacles. We argue that the phenomenon of open science can be seen through the prism of a social dilemma: what is in the collective best interest of the scientific community is not necessarily in the best interest of the individual scientist. We discuss the possibilities of transferring theoretical solutions to social dilemma problems to the realm of open science.

Once again about experts, independent expertise, and expert councils

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 71-75
Author(s):  
MAXIM SAFONOV ◽  
◽  
MARAT BIKTIMIROV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Expert Opinion ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Technical Expertise ◽  
State Support ◽  
The Status ◽  
Scientific Technical ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article examines the recent active public debate concerning the organization of expert activity in Russia. Along with terminological ambiguity in this area, there are significant issues related to the status of the expert, expert’s independence, and the general devaluation of expert opinion. The activity of expert councils formed under the executive authorities is subject to particular criticism both from the citizens and the state. At the same time, special attention is paid to the participation of the scientific community in the independent expertise of programs, projects, and decisions. In this connection, according to the results of the meeting of the Council on education and science, the list of instructions of the President of the Russian Federation provides for the introduction of amendments into the legislation concerning the concept “scientific (scientific-technical) expertise”. It is necessary to establish the criteria and mechanisms for this expertise, as well as the rules for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of budgetary allocations for state support of scientific research and development.

Linking Scientific Research to Development Agenda

2018 ◽  
pp. 374-391
Author(s):  
P. K. Kenabatho ◽  
B. P. Parida ◽  
B. Matlhodi ◽  
D.B. Moalafhi
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Knowledge Generation ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Scientific Investigations ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, the scientific community has been urged to undertake research that can immediately have impact on development issues, including national policies, strategies, and people's livelihoods, among others. While this is a fair call from decision makers, it should also be realized that science by nature is about innovation, discovery and knowledge generation. In this context, there is need for a balance between long term scientific investigations and short term scientific applications. With regard to the former, researchers spend years investigating (or need data of sufficient record length) to provide sound and reliable solutions to a problem at hand while in the latter, it is possible to reach a solution with few selected analyses. In all cases, it is advisable that researchers, where possible should link their studies to topical development issues in their case studies. In this paper, we use a hydrometeorological project in the Notwane catchment, Botswana, to show the importance of linking research to development agenda for mutual benefit of researchers and policy makers. The results indicate that some key development issues are being addressed by the Project and the scope exists to improve the impact of the project.

The Implications of Microarray Technology for Animal Use in Scientific Research

2002 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth S. Jenkins ◽  
Caren Broadhead ◽  
Robert D. Combes
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Microarray Technology ◽  
Single Experiment ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Animal Use

Microarray technology has the potential to affect the number of laboratory animals used, the severity of animal experiments, and the development of non-animal alternatives in several areas of scientific research. Microarrays can contain hundreds or thousands of microscopic spots of DNA, immobilised on a solid support, and their use enables global patterns of gene expression to be determined in a single experiment. This technology is being used to improve our understanding of the operation of biological systems during health and disease, and their responses to chemical insults. Although it is impossible to predict with certainty any future trends regarding animal use, microarray technology might not initially reduce animal use, as is often claimed to be the case. The accelerated pace of research as a result of the use of microarrays could increase overall animal use in basic and applied biological research, by increasing the numbers of interesting genes identified for further analysis, and the number of potential targets for drug development. Each new lead will require further evaluation in studies that could involve animals. In toxicity testing, microarray studies could lead to increases in animal studies, if further confirmatory and other studies are performed. However, before such technology can be used more extensively, several technical problems need to be overcome, and the relevance of the data to biological processes needs to be assessed. Were microarray technology to be used in the manner envisaged by its protagonists, there need to be efforts to increase the likelihood that its application will create new opportunities for reducing, refining and replacing animal use. This comment is a critical assessment of the possible implications of the application of microarray technology on animal experimentation in various research areas, and makes some recommendations for maximising the application of the Three Rs.

scholarly journals Ethical Consistency and Experience: An Attempt to Influence Researcher Attitudes Toward Questionable Research Practices Through Reading Prompts

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel V. Bruton ◽  
Mitch Brown ◽  
Donald F. Sacco
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Research Practices ◽  
Widespread Occurrence ◽  
Questionable Research Practices ◽  
The Past

Over the past couple of decades, the apparent widespread occurrence of Questionable Research Practices (QRPs) in scientific research has been widely discussed in the research ethics literature as a source of concern. Various ways of reducing their use have been proposed and implemented, ranging from improved training and incentives for adopting best practices to systematic reforms. This article reports on the results of two studies that investigated the efficacy of simple, psychological interventions aimed at changing researcher attitudes toward QRPs. While the interventions did not significantly modify researchers’ reactions to QRPs, they showed differential efficacy depending on scientists’ experience, suggesting complexities in researcher psychology and the ethics of QRPs that merit further study.

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