The Deluge of Spurious Correlations in Big Data

Very large databases are a major opportunity for science and data analytics is a remarkable new field of investigation in computer science. The effectiveness of these tools is used to support a “philosophy” against the scientific method as developed throughout history. According to this view, computer-discovered correlations should replace understanding and guide prediction and action. Consequently, there will be no need to give scientific meaning to phenomena, by proposing, say, causal relations, since regularities in very large databases are enough: “with enough data, the numbers speak for themselves”. The “end of science” is proclaimed. Using classical results from ergodic theory, Ramsey theory and algorithmic information theory, we show that this “philosophy” is wrong. For example, we prove that very large databases have to contain arbitrary correlations. These correlations appear only due to the size, not the nature, of data. They can be found in “randomly” generated, large enough databases, which—as we will prove—implies that most correlations are spurious. Too much information tends to behave like very little information. The scientific method can be enriched by computer mining in immense databases, but not replaced by it.     

怀特海哲学在当代跨学科的意义

当今人类知识跨学科、跨文化发展需要综合性的思维和整体性的观念。怀特海哲学迎合了这种时代的需要。跨学科涉及学科之间的整体关联，跨文化则涉及科学与人文的统一，它们反映了普遍关联的事实和一般环境的预设。现代思想的实体主义和二元论却与此根本相悖。怀特海提出机体概念及其生态世界观能够解释这种事实并证明这种预设。从生态世界观出发，将揭示其中蕴涵的对于科学发展的重要意义。     

科学技术的环境价值探悉

科学技术以其特有的生态功能而蕴涵着巨大的环境价值，其广泛的应用却出现了对环境价值追采的背离。需要探析其深刻的认识论原因和社会原因，通过转变科学范式，确立科技创新的生态导向，为人与自然的积极平衡提供技术支撑，以实现科学技术社会环境价值的回归。处于人与自然矛盾之中和市场经济压力之下，推进科技创新，改变科技落后状态是硬道理，是时代赋予我们的使命。     

The Abductive Loop: Tracking Irrational Sets

We argue from the Church-Turing thesis (Kleene Mathematical logic. New York: Wiley 1967) that a program can be considered as equivalent to a formal language similar to predicate calculus where predicates can be taken as functions. We can relate such a calculus to Wittgenstein’s first major work, the Tractatus, and use the Tractatus and its theses as a model of the formal classical definition of a computer program. However, Wittgenstein found flaws in his initial great work and he explored these flaws in a new thesis described in his second great work; the Philosophical Investigations. The question we address is “can computer science make the same leap?” We are proposing, because of the flaws identified by Wittgenstein, that computers will never have the possibility of natural communication with people unless they become active participants of human society. The essential difference between formal models used in computing and human communication is that formal models are based upon rational sets whereas people are not so restricted. We introduce irrational sets as a concept that requires the use of an abductive inference system. However, formal models are still considered central to our means of using hypotheses through deduction to make predictions about the world. These formal models are required to continually be updated in response to peoples’ changes in their way of seeing the world. We propose that one mechanism used to keep track of these changes is the Peircian abductive loop.     

大科学与知识产权制度冲突的成因初探

知识产权是研究大科学不能回避的问题，而大科学项目中的知识产权问题更为突出，其主要的原因是：知识产权制度自身的两面性，大科学项目和私人资助的科研项目中国家主体地位的不同，以及大科学与知识产权制度在价值取向上的冲突。     

利益驱动视角下科技资源共享及其关键问题分析

科技的进步和繁荣离不开对科技资源的合理优化配置，这要求不但注重投入环节的分配，还要着力调解已分配科技资源的再利用和共享。科技资源共享与否以及共享效果如何与一个国家的法律、安全保障及意识形态有关，而本质是受到利益的影响。本文在利益驱动视角下对科技资源共享进行全新认识，对共享的类型、发展阶段进行探讨。研究了利益驱动视角下科技资源共享中的实施重点，包括构建科技资源专门的知识产权体系，协调科技资源共享多个参与主体的利益平衡等，从而保证科技资源共享的健康与可持续性发展。     

尼采的科学哲学述评

尼采的科学哲学既不属于“旧的”实证主义的、逻辑语言学的、分析的形式,也不属于“新的”历史的、解释学的形式。他认为科学的问题不能通过科学本身得到解决,必须从哲学上来澄清科学的意义和价值。尼采主张从艺术的视角来透视科学,又从生命的视角来透视艺术。从这个意义上说,尼采的科学哲学是艺术和生命的哲学。     

How Not to Attack Intelligent Design Creationism: Philosophical Misconceptions About Methodological Naturalism

In recent controversies about Intelligent Design Creationism (IDC), the principle of methodological naturalism (MN) has played an important role. In this paper, an often neglected distinction is made between two different conceptions of MN, each with its respective rationale and with a different view on the proper role of MN in science. According to one popular conception, MN is a self-imposed or intrinsic limitation of science, which means that science is simply not equipped to deal with claims of the supernatural (Intrinsic MN or IMN). Alternatively, we will defend MN as a provisory and empirically grounded attitude of scientists, which is justified in virtue of the consistent success of naturalistic explanations and the lack of success of supernatural explanations in the history of science (Provisory MN or PMN). Science does have a bearing on supernatural hypotheses, and its verdict is uniformly negative. We will discuss five arguments that have been proposed in support of IMN: the argument from the definition of science, the argument from lawful regularity, the science stopper argument, the argument from procedural necessity, and the testability argument. We conclude that IMN, because of its philosophical flaws, proves to be an ill-advised strategy to counter the claims of IDC. Evolutionary scientists are on firmer ground if they discard supernatural explanations on purely evidential grounds, instead of ruling them out by philosophical fiat.     

复杂性科学批判之批判--兼析"关于‘复杂性研究’和‘复杂性科学’"一文

针对“关于‘复杂性研究’和‘复杂性科学’一文中的一些观点进行商榷。复杂性科学的产生与发展促进了复杂性哲学的产生与发展，复杂性哲学要以复杂性科学为基础。对各个学科领域复杂性探索，建立一整套复杂系统演化理论，形成复杂性科学是可能的。复杂性科学是一门新学科。     

论茅以升的工程科技思想

茅以升积数十年对科学、技术、工程的本质和特征及其相互关系的探索,提出:科学为工程之母,工程泽被科学,两者相辅相成;科学是知,技术是行,知行在实践中合一;生产中来,生产中去,科学为生产服务,学科中来,学科中去,生产为科学服务等思想。茅以升上述工程科技思想时至今日仍不乏理论价值和现实意义,是工程哲学和中国近现代工程史研究的重要内容之一。     

HNC理论框架下的军语概念体系研究

传统的军语研究建立在军事学、术语学、词汇学、社会语言学、认知语言学、修辞学等学科基础上,文章探讨基于HNC语义网络下军语表达形式的特点,力求通过建立一种新的模式使军事术语能用于自然语言的计算机处理,在此基础上可进一步推动军语辞书编纂、军语的机器翻译等研究。     

公众对科学的信任之社会功能

公众对科学的信任对于公众自身、科学及整个社会都有着重要的社会功能,而这种信任应当保持在一定的合理的范围之内,信任缺失或盲目信任都会给社会造成一定的不良影响。因此,公众对科学的信任应该是一种理性的信任。     

银河亿次巨型计算机创新性研究——以工程本质、决策及文化为中心

工程创新是技术与非技术因素的综合集成与优化。本文以档案文献和访谈亲历者为基础,从工程本质、工程决策及工程文化层面,阐明银河亿次巨型计算机,本质上是计算机技术领域中的工程活动,是在"独立自主、自力更生与引进、吸收相结合"方针指导下自主实现的渐进性工程创新,是国家意志与团队价值相统一的工程创新。     

Misrepresentation in Context

We can witness the recent surge of interest in the interaction between cognitive science, philosophy of science, and aesthetics on the problem of representation. This naturally leads us to rethinking the achievements of Goodman’s monumental book Languages of Art. For, there is no doubt that no one else contributed more than Goodman to throw a light on the cognitive function of art. Ironically, it could be also Goodman who has been the stumbling block for a unified theory of representation. In this paper, I shall contrast the ways how differently misrepresentation has been treated in cognitive science, aesthetics, and philosophy of science. And I shall show that it is Goodman’s unnecessary separation of resemblance and representation in art that made such a difference. As a conclusion, I will indicate some of the most promising projects toward the unified theory of representation the revolt against Goodman’s rejection of resemblance theories might promise to us.     

传统宗教意识和中国科学发展

冯友兰提过一种看法：中国哲学家不需要现代科学。这种观点从未得到过学术界的讨论。本文旨在通过对中国自然观念的存在分析来进行这样的考证。文中以《庄子》和《中庸》为基础，对道家和儒家中国式的存在关怀以及它们为何对现代科学观念下的科学研究不感兴趣进行考察，并支持这样一种观点：这两部著作中包含了一种终极关怀；这种终极关怀与作为现代科学基础的终极关怀完全不同。为了佐证这一观点，文中对徐光启和伽利略进行了简要比较，并提出这样一个议题：为了更好地理解中国现代科学的发展，我们不得不透视作为现代科学基础的宗教意识。     

Philosophy of chemistry and the image of science

The philosophical analysis of chemistry has advanced at such a pace during the last dozen years that the existence of philosophy of chemistry as an autonomous discipline cannot be doubted any more. The present paper will attempt to analyse the experience of philosophy of chemistry at the, so to say, meta-level. Philosophers of chemistry have especially stressed that all sciences need not be similar to physics. They have tried to argue for chemistry as its own type of science and for a pluralistic understanding of science in general. However, when stressing the specific character of chemistry, philosophers do not always analyse the question ‘What is science?’ theoretically. It is obvious that a ‘monistic’ understanding of science should not be based simply on physics as the epitome of science, regarding it as a historical accident that physics has obtained this status. The author’s point is that the philosophical and methodological image of science should not be chosen arbitrarily; instead, it should be theoretically elaborated as an idealization (theoretical model) substantiated on the historical practice of science. It is argued that although physics has, in a sense, justifiably obtained the status of a paradigm of science, chemistry, which is not simply a physical science, but a discipline with a dual character, is also relevant for elaborating a theoretical model of science. The theoretical model of science is a good tool for examining various issues in philosophy of chemistry as well as in philosophy of science or science studies generally.     

解读"风险社会"理论

“风险社会”理论指出:随着科学技术与现代化的高速发展,人类社会已经开始由以财富分配为主题的阶级社会向以风险分配为主题的风险社会转化,并由此导致了一系列社会结构和政治上的变迁,包括个体化进程、对科学技术和政治体制的反思等等。风险社会理论对中国的社会发展有相当的政策价值。     

环境伦理学的学科定位和发展趋势

环境伦理学是一门研究人类生存环境的伦理价值和人类对待生存环境的行为规范的学科。经过一个多世纪的孕育、创生和演进历程,环境伦理学已经在科学知识体系中确立了自身的地位。环境伦理学作为介于环境科学与伦理学之间的交叉性边缘分支学科,与环境科学、伦理学的其他一些边缘分支学科有着复杂的内在联系。在今后的发展中,环境伦理学有可能在多学科理论和方法的交汇融合中形成一系列次级分支学科或研究领域。     

海洋科技的伦理审视

海洋科技是21世纪人类最有可能取得重大突破的领域之一;是世界各海洋大国激烈竞争的战场;也是我国科技未来发展极具潜力的研究领域,应当给予深切的伦理关怀。本文从伦理学的视角审视海洋科技的历史发展、当代展现及未来憧憬,分析海洋科技发展的正负面效应,培养公众海洋科技伦理意识。     

历史的逻辑理性--科学哲学理性的未来转向

西方现代科学哲学理性经历了从逻辑理性到历史理性的演进。逻辑理性和历史理性存在一定的合理性的同时,也存在自身无法克服的局限性。科学哲学的进一步发展表明,科学哲学理性的未来转向应是将二者统一的“历史的逻辑理性”。正确把握历史的逻辑理性的关键是如何理解历史。从归根到底的意义上看,历史的本质是实践的。历史的逻辑理性将是科学哲学理论的生长点。