TY - JOUR
T1 - Re-politicising Philosophy of Science
T2 - A Continuing Challenge for Social Epistemology
AU - Yoshida, Kei
N1 - Funding Information:
Furthermore, Mirowski points out that not only C. West Churchman and Richard Rudner, the editors of the journal Philosophy of Science, but also Reichen-bach worked as operations researchers (Mirowski 2004, 301).2 In this sense, OR and US philosophy of science were the same. Research centres such as the RAND Corporation (RAND) played an important role in making this pact between OR and US philosophy of science. RAND, a non-profit think tank founded in 1946, was funded by the Douglas Aircraft Company under the auspices of US Army Air Forces. RAND was associated with US national security policies such as the development projects of thermonuclear bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles (Nasar 1998). Its research includes game-theoretic analyses of the possibility of nuclear war between the USA and the USSR. According to Mirowski, Reichenbach wrote at least three articles at RAND. These articles more or less investigate the probability of the USSR’s going to war. Furthermore, Reichenbach appeared in an advertisement for RAND in Science six years later after his death (Reisch 2005, 351–3). Although I do not want to commit myself to a conspiracy theory, these facts could strengthen Mirowski’s claim that OR and US philosophy of science were the same. In Mirowski’s opinion, the pact between OR and US philosophy of science contributed to the specialisation of the philosophy of science.
Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - The aim of this paper is to investigate how we can reunite social philosophy and philosophy of science to address problems in science and technology. First, referring to Don Howard's, George Reisch's, and Philip Mirowski's works, I shall briefly explain how philosophy of science was depoliticised during the cold war. Second, I shall examine Steve Fuller's criticism of Thomas Kuhn. Third, I shall scrutinise Philip Kitcher's view of well-ordered science. Fourth, I shall emphasise the importance of autonomy and argue that philosophy of science needs to cultivate a critical attitude towards authority. Fifth, drawing upon Ian Jarvie's social reading of Karl Popper, I shall argue that Popper's philosophy can be a model for reuniting social philosophy and philosophy of science.
AB - The aim of this paper is to investigate how we can reunite social philosophy and philosophy of science to address problems in science and technology. First, referring to Don Howard's, George Reisch's, and Philip Mirowski's works, I shall briefly explain how philosophy of science was depoliticised during the cold war. Second, I shall examine Steve Fuller's criticism of Thomas Kuhn. Third, I shall scrutinise Philip Kitcher's view of well-ordered science. Fourth, I shall emphasise the importance of autonomy and argue that philosophy of science needs to cultivate a critical attitude towards authority. Fifth, drawing upon Ian Jarvie's social reading of Karl Popper, I shall argue that Popper's philosophy can be a model for reuniting social philosophy and philosophy of science.
KW - Cold War
KW - Depoliticisation
KW - Philosophy of Science
KW - Social Philosophy
KW - Specialisation
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U2 - 10.1080/02691728.2012.727190
DO - 10.1080/02691728.2012.727190
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84871325011
SN - 0269-1728
VL - 26
SP - 365
EP - 378
JO - Social Epistemology
JF - Social Epistemology
IS - 3-4
ER -