Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research
The behavior/structure methodological dichotomy as locus of scientific inquiry is closely related to the issue of modeling and theory change in scientific explanation. Given that the traditional tension between structure and behavior in scientific modeling is likely here to stay, considering the rel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-12-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/3/4/740 |
| _version_ | 1818942014661591040 |
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| author | Alcibiades Malapi-Nelson |
| author_facet | Alcibiades Malapi-Nelson |
| author_sort | Alcibiades Malapi-Nelson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The behavior/structure methodological dichotomy as locus of scientific inquiry is closely related to the issue of modeling and theory change in scientific explanation. Given that the traditional tension between structure and behavior in scientific modeling is likely here to stay, considering the relevant precedents in the history of ideas could help us better understand this theoretical struggle. This better understanding might open up unforeseen possibilities and new instantiations, particularly in what concerns the proposed technological modification of the human condition. The sequential structure of this paper is twofold. The contribution of three philosophers better known in the humanities than in the study of science proper are laid out. The key theoretical notions interweaving the whole narrative are those of mechanization, constructability and simulation. They shall provide the conceptual bridge between these classical thinkers and the following section. Here, a panoramic view of three significant experimental approaches in contemporary scientific research is displayed, suggesting that their undisclosed ontological premises have deep roots in the Western tradition of the humanities. This ontological lock between core humanist ideals and late research in biology and nanoscience is ultimately suggested as responsible for pervasively altering what is canonically understood as “human”. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:04:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-34f54ff9dfbf4e2cacafb9c6c073c995 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T07:04:42Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-34f54ff9dfbf4e2cacafb9c6c073c9952022-12-21T19:49:05ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872014-12-013474076510.3390/h3040740h3040740Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific ResearchAlcibiades Malapi-Nelson0School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Humber College, 205 Humber College Boulevard, Toronto, ON M9W 5L7, CanadaThe behavior/structure methodological dichotomy as locus of scientific inquiry is closely related to the issue of modeling and theory change in scientific explanation. Given that the traditional tension between structure and behavior in scientific modeling is likely here to stay, considering the relevant precedents in the history of ideas could help us better understand this theoretical struggle. This better understanding might open up unforeseen possibilities and new instantiations, particularly in what concerns the proposed technological modification of the human condition. The sequential structure of this paper is twofold. The contribution of three philosophers better known in the humanities than in the study of science proper are laid out. The key theoretical notions interweaving the whole narrative are those of mechanization, constructability and simulation. They shall provide the conceptual bridge between these classical thinkers and the following section. Here, a panoramic view of three significant experimental approaches in contemporary scientific research is displayed, suggesting that their undisclosed ontological premises have deep roots in the Western tradition of the humanities. This ontological lock between core humanist ideals and late research in biology and nanoscience is ultimately suggested as responsible for pervasively altering what is canonically understood as “human”.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/3/4/740Duns ScotusGiambattista VicoFrancis BaconsimulationartificialitymachinecyberneticsCulture Warsnanotechnologytranshumanism |
| spellingShingle | Alcibiades Malapi-Nelson Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research Humanities Duns Scotus Giambattista Vico Francis Bacon simulation artificiality machine cybernetics Culture Wars nanotechnology transhumanism |
| title | Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research |
| title_full | Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research |
| title_fullStr | Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research |
| title_short | Humanities’ Metaphysical Underpinnings of Late Frontier Scientific Research |
| title_sort | humanities metaphysical underpinnings of late frontier scientific research |
| topic | Duns Scotus Giambattista Vico Francis Bacon simulation artificiality machine cybernetics Culture Wars nanotechnology transhumanism |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/3/4/740 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alcibiadesmalapinelson humanitiesmetaphysicalunderpinningsoflatefrontierscientificresearch |