scholarly journals The Catch 22 syndrome of social scientists in the semiperiphery: Exploratory sociological observations

Sociologija ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Blagojevic ◽  
Gad Yair
Keyword(s):  
Political Organization ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Scholarly Publications ◽  
The Social ◽  
Catch 22 ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Problem Setting

This paper describes the parochial predicament of the social sciences by looking at world sociology in its Janus-like face: on the one hand we focus on the intellectual, political, and sometimes even ethical compromises that social scientists in European semiperipheral countries forgo in order to gain acceptance and recognition in world sociology. On the other hand we show how these compromises paradoxically impoverish intellectual potentialities in the major centers of academic excellence too. In the analyses we focus on different interrelated facets of scholarly work where these paradoxes take shape: problem setting and conceptualization, the hierarchy of scholarly publications, the definition of excellence through citation patterns, scientific conferences, and lastly, funding schemes for research. We argue that the social and the political organization of the World System of Science jeopardizes free access to multiple and plural perspectives of the social. A potential source of ideas, theories, and paradigms is hampered by the hierarchical division of labor between scientists in the centers of science and their peers in semiperipheral countries, whose knowledge remains unutilized and sidelined.

Big Decisions: Opting, Converting, Drifting

2006 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edna Ullmann-Margalit
Keyword(s):  
Decision Theory ◽  
Rational Choice ◽  
Practical Reasoning ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Atomic Level ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Newtonian Physics ◽  
The Social ◽  
Separate Treatment ◽  
The One

I want to focus on some of the limits of decision theory that are of interest to the philosophical concern with practical reasoning and rational choice. These limits should also be of interest to the social-scientists' concern with Rational Choice.Let me start with an analogy. Classical Newtonian physics holds good and valid for middle-sized objects, but not for the phenomena of the very little, micro, sub-atomic level or the very large, macro, outer-space level: different theories, concepts and laws apply there. Similarly, I suggest that we might think of the theory of decisionmaking as relating to middle-sized, ordinary decisions, and to them only. There remain the two extremes, the very ‘small’ decisions on the one hand and the very ‘big’ decisions on the other. These may pose a challenge to the ordinary decision theory and may consequently require a separate treatment.

scholarly journals The social construction of the social epigenome and the larger biological context

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ute Deichmann
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Epistemic Status ◽  
Regulatory Sequences ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Epigenetic Marks ◽  
The Social ◽  
Lamarckian Inheritance ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Scientific Facts

Abstract Epigenetics researchers in developmental, cell, and molecular biology greatly diverge in their understanding and definitions of epigenetics. In contrast, social epigeneticists, e.g., sociologists, scholars of STS, and behavioural scientists, share a focus and definition of epigenetics that is environmentally caused and trans-generationally inherited. This article demonstrates that this emphasis on the environment and on so-called Lamarckian inheritance, in addition to other factors, reflects an interdisciplinary power struggle with genetics, in which epigenetics appears to grant the social sciences a higher epistemic status. Social scientists’ understanding of epigenetics, thus, appears in part to be socially constructed, i.e., the result of extra-scientific factors, such as social processes and the self-interest of the discipline. This article argues that social epigeneticists make far-reaching claims by selecting elements from research labelled epigenetics in biology while ignoring widely confirmed scientific facts in genetics and cell biology, such as the dependence of epigenetic marks on DNA sequence-specific events, or the lack of evidence for the lasting influence of the environment on epigenetic marks or the epigenome. Moreover, they treat as a given crucial questions that are far from resolved, such as what role, if any, DNA methylation plays in the complex biochemical system of regulating gene activity. The article also points out incorrect perceptions and media hypes among biological epigeneticists and calls attention to an apparent bias among scientific journals that prefer papers that promote transgenerational epigenetic inheritance over articles that critique it. The article concludes that while research labelled epigenetics contributes significantly to our knowledge about chromatin and the genome, it does not, as is often claimed, rehabilitate Lamarck or overthrow the fundamental biological principles of gene regulation, which are based on specific regulatory sequences of the genome.

Emergence, time and sociality: comparing conceptions of process ontology

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 1365-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Baggio
Keyword(s):  
Social Ontology ◽  
Multiple Selves ◽  
Process Ontology ◽  
Philosophical Debate ◽  
Social Positioning ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Account ◽  
Social Realm ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of

Abstract The paper focuses on a comparison between Lawson’s and Mead’s processual ontologies and more specifically on their conceptions of emergence. The first aim of the article is to highlight elements of similarity between their conceptions of social reality. It also aims to show, on the one hand, that Mead’s bio-social account of the emergent can help to interpret the dynamic process of emergence of both the social realm and agents’ identities (as described by Lawson) from a dynamic non-reductive naturalistic perspective; on the other hand, it shows how Lawson’s category of ‘social positioning’ can complement Mead’s ontogenetic explanation of changing social positions and the definition of ‘multiple selves’. By carefully considering the key elements of Lawson’s and Mead’s projects, it is, in fact, possible to understand better the meaning of a commitment to an updated processual ontology. In considering connections with classical pragmatic authors, it can be demonstrated that there are significant overlaps regarding the respective ways of considering the emergent. This offers a chance to understand more deeply how both pragmatism and Cambridge social ontology can together become part of the wider contemporary philosophical debate. In fact, Mead’s attempted synthesis between social and physical theories would help to highlight the common and complementary aspects linking what can be defined as his and Lawson’s ‘processual ontologies’.

scholarly journals Translation and the Dialectics of Difference and Equivalence: Some Theoretical Propositions for a Redefinition of the Source-Target Text Relation

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieven Tack
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Communication Theory ◽  
Sufficient Conditions ◽  
General Question ◽  
Source Text ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient ◽  
Level Of Analysis

Abstract At which level of analysis (descriptivist, empirical, epistemological), and along which perspective (sociological, linguistical, communicative), should we locate the distinctive criteria for the definition of translation? In other words, what are the necessary and sufficient conditions which constitute the object « translation,» exclusively this object and not any other object? This is the general question of this article. It will be developped in two steps. First, we shall try to demonstrate that the perspective adopted by translatology, in defining translation by its semantical and fonctional equivalence relation with a source text, is congenetically determined by the discursive exclusion of the theorisation of that which is the very condition of possibility of each translation: the disrupture and distancing by which humans structure their social relation. Consequently, it is by the critique of communication theory, where a large part of translatology has drawn its scientific foundations, that we can deliver sound arguments for the assessing of translation in the structure of social relations. A second step consists in the formulation of a working hypothesis: if translation may be caused by the social dialectics of distancing and negociation of meaning, it is not sufficiently specified by this logic. It could be hypothesized that translation finds its specificity in the hybridity of the linguistic referential relation it instaures with the mute universe to be conceptualized on the one hand, and with the source text to be reformulated on the other.

Fair Process: Striving for Justice in Family Business

2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ludo Van der Heyden ◽  
Christine Blondel ◽  
Randel S. Carlock
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Procedural Justice ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Fair Process ◽  
Business System ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Family ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of

The social science and business literatures on procedural justice or fair process attest that improvements in procedural fairness can be expected to improve both a firm's performance and the commitment and trust of the individuals involved with it. This article examines the relevance of procedural justice for family business. When a family is an influential component of a particular business system, the application of justice is typically rendered more complex than might be the case for nonfamily firms. Different criteria (need, merit, and equality) guide the application of distributive justice among families, firms, and shareholders. This divergence in criterion also lies at the heart of many conflicts inside the family business. In this article, we argue that the application of procedural justice reduces occurrences of conflict and, in some cases, may eliminate conflict altogether. We propose a definition of fair process that extends and enriches the one existing in the literature. We offer five fundamental criteria essential to the effectiveness of fair process in family firms. We conclude with a series of case studies that illustrate typical questions faced inside family businesses. We show that a lack of fairness in the decision and managerial processes governing these businesses and their associated families is a source of conflict. We describe how increasing fair process practices improves the performance of these businesses while also increasing the satisfaction of those associated with them.

scholarly journals The Polish Round Table as a blueprint for “successful” social change? Some thoughts on “liberal hindsight” in the social sciences

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Kende ◽  
Martijn van Zomeren
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Successful Outcome ◽  
Political Transformation ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
The Social ◽  
Political Evaluation ◽  
Definition Of Success ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Types Of Change

The Polish Round Table offers a rare historical example where negotiations between representatives of opposing political sides achieved major political transformation in a peaceful way. Such an outcome should undoubtedly be labeled a success. However, in our commentary, taking the example of the Polish Round Table, we take a critical look at the interpretation of success of social movements by social scientists. In line with the ethos of social sciences, social scientists value (harmoniously achieved) progressive types of change, such as the change that followed the negotiations of the Polish Round Table. Indeed, when it comes to the Round Table, our definition of success may be blurred by the political evaluation of the changes of 1989 from a liberal perspective. The target articles point out the importance of specific structural conditions (both internal and international) and psychological processes (perceptions of power, efficacy and moral commitment) that led to the successful outcome. We therefore argue that it is pivotal to delineate the conditions of success, if we want to apply them to other contexts without bias. Neither hindsight, nor liberal bias are problematic per se, but they can evoke a form of wishful thinking that, as scientists, we may want to treat with some skepticism.

scholarly journals A natureza (dos) nos fatos urbanos: produção do espaço e degradação ambiental

2001 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gislene PEREIRA
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Environmental Degradation ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Urban Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One

Este trabalho pretende discutir a relação entre o processo de construção do espaço urbano, a segregação socioespacial e a degradação ambiental. A urbanização crescente da população no Brasil tem feito com que os problemas decorrentes desse processo (carência de infra-estrutura, densificação de áreas inadequadas, degradação ambiental, segregação socioespacial) centralizem nas últimas décadas as discussões de governantes, técnicos e cientistas sociais. Cabe, então, perguntar: por que nossas cidades não têm a qualidade que todos queremos, mesmo depois das inúmeras iniciativas preconizadas pelo poder público para reversão dessas tendências negativas? Nosso interesse aqui é discutir essas questões a partir do caso particular da cidade de Curitiba, a qual, apesar de vir se destacando por experiências bem sucedidas de planejamento, segue os padrões brasileiros no que se refere à segregação socioespacial. Entendemos que a discussão das questões urbanas deve ser centrada nos elementos que contribuem para a segregação socioespacial e nas possibilidades e limites das políticas públicas de controle do uso do solo respondendo de forma positiva para a sua superação. A partir do conhecimento da lógica da produção do espaço o trabalho pretende averiguar as possibilidades de integração das políticas urbanas, com o objetivo de promover a melhoria da qualidade ambiental. The nature (of) our urban facts: productions of space and environmental degradation Abstract This work intends to discuss the relation among the process of construction of the urban space, the social-spacial segregation and the environmental degradation. The growing urbanisation of the Brazilian population has led the problems which come from such process – lack of infrastructure, unsuitable densification of areas, environmental degradation, social-space segregation – to centralize the discussion of governmental rulings, technicians and social scientists. So, it’s worthy to ask: why our cities do not have the quality we want, even after several initiatives advocated by the public policies to revert these negative trends? Our interest here is to discuss such questions from the particular case of Curitiba city, the one which, despite of being standing out itself throughout well-succeded experiences of planning, follows the Brazilian patterns related to the social-spacial segregation. We understand that the discussion of urban questions must be focused on the elements which contribute to the social-spacial segregation and on the possibilities and limits of the public policies to answer in a positive way to their overcoming. From the knowledge of the production logic of the space, this work intends to check out the possibilities of integration of the urban policies, with the aim of promoting the increasing of the environmental quality.

Islamic Perspectives on Theory Building in the Social Sciences

1993 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Ibrahim A. Ragab
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Theory Building ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Western Model ◽  
The Social ◽  
Islamic Science ◽  
The One ◽  
Science Movement

The issue of the relevance of Islam to modem "scientific" thinking isflanked on both sides by extreme positions. On further investigation,however, these positions tun out to reflect certain misconceptions only,perpetuated by certain structural and pemnal factors that lend themselvesreadily to systematic analysis and, hopefully, correction. On the one hand,we have legions of Muslim social scientists who still flinch at hearing ofattempts to integrate divine revelation with science. Many of them wouldfind the title of this paper problematic, if not outright self-contradictory.What does Islam, or any other religion for that matter, have to do withscience or with theory building, they would ask.This response should hardly be unexpected, considering the type ofacademic and professional indoctrination that we all have gone through.The scientific establishment, with its overriding positivist-empiricistleanings, has long adopted and encouraged an attitude-or more correctlya "faith"-of sepamtion between science and religion. Consider, for example,the following statement by no less an authority than the NationalAcademy of Sciences in the United States, in 1981:Religion and science are separate and mutually exclusive realmsof human thought, presentation of which in the same contextleads to misunderstanding of both scientific theory and Feligiousbelief. (Sperry 1988, 608-9)This terse statement is representative of the attitudes of those whoadhere to the old paradigm, seemingly totally oblivious of the fundamentalcriticisms leveled from all directions at that type of outmodedview of science.On the other hand, we have those Muslim scientists already active inthe Islamic science movement who may find the content of the paper objectionablebecause it does not depart enough from the Western model of ...

Integrative competency of a teacher as the condition of efficiency of the educational process in the modern age

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-36
Author(s):  
D. D. Bychkova
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Personal Significance ◽  
Accessible Information ◽  
The Social ◽  
Online Stores ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Teacher Mentor

Formation and development of professional qualities of a person is a long and difficult process, which is divided into several levels of training, whereby achieving positive results at one level allows the transition to the next. First, a person gets an extensive database of knowledge, skills abilities at school, and this base helps him/her to determine his/her preferences and make a choice in favor of a certain profession. Then a person continues education for chosen profession in university, and then, after graduation, a person gets an opportunity to continue improving and self-educating in the chosen professional sphere. But all these levels of education are not possible to perform without the direct or indirect influence of the one who can teach, guide and even control the process of education. A person constantly interacts to some extent with a teacher, mentor, tutor and others while acquiring knowledge, forming skills and abilities. The modern generation is fundamentally different from the previous one, with different life approach and understanding of the world, as it lives in a hi-tech world of accessible information, virtual reality, social networks, online stores, smartphones and other gadgets. The boundaries between real and virtual worlds have almost been erased. Therefore, in order to increase the efficiency of learning and education processes in the new reality, a new approach, concepts and rules are needed, and consequently, new competencies that teacher should acquire. Taking into account the peculiarities of the term “competence” and also the fact that the field of teacher’s expertise is extensive and includes both educating and building students’ personality, there is a need to form an integrative competence of future teachers, which will provide them with essential assistance in their professional life. The paper formulates the definition of integrative competence; determines the place occupied by these competences in the hierarchy of competences; indicates the social and practical conditionality, significance of the competence, personal significance of the competence, competence indicators; gives a brief description of the fund of evaluation tools allowing to judge its formation.

WOMEN‘S STUDIES IN SOCIOLOGY: A PERFUMED GHETTO?

1981 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-8
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Science ◽  
Women's Studies ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Women’S Studies ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Status ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

One of the fields of sociology which is experiencing a dramatic explosion is that catch‐all area of Women's Studies. Books and articles touching on women's experiences in the labour market or in the home, the education of girls or images of femininity, the impact of the law on women or sexism in the social sciences have been proliferating in the last decade. Much of the impetus has been provided by the renascent Women's Movement, and the various academic concerns echo the diverse attacks on the status quo being made by politically active women. The one thing which holds all this material together is an explicit concern to bring women to the centre of the stage in the social sciences, instead of leaving them (as they so often have been) in the wings or with mere walk‐on parts. Taking the woman's point of view is seen as a legitimate corrective to the tendency to ignore women altogether. But is this sufficient to constitute the nucleus of a new speciality within sociology, which is what seems to be happening to ‘Women's Studies’ and ‘feminist’ social science? More seriously, should sociological discussions of women be ghettoised into special courses on women in society? As a preliminary attempt to redress the balance maybe such separate development can be justified, but if that is all that happens, the enriching potential of feminist social science may well be lost to mainstream sociology. It is not just that feminist social scientists want women to be brought in to complete the picture. It is not just that they claim that half the picture is being left unexposed. The claims are often much more ambitious than that: what much feminist writing is attempting is a demonstration of the distortion in the half image which is exposed. An injection of feminist thinking into practically any sociological speciality could lead to a profound re‐orientation of that field. More than this, a feminist approach can indicate the ways in which traditional boundaries between sociological specialities can obscure women and their special position in society. Feminist social scientists throw down the gauntlet on the way in which the field of sociology has traditionally been carved up. But if women's studies are kept in their ghetto, this challenge will be lost: to me, the explicitly critical stance which feminist research takes with respect to mainstream sociology is one of its most exciting qualities, and such research has important insights to contribute to the development of the discipline.

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