Ideals and monisms: recent criticisms of the Strong Programme in the sociology of knowledge

I offer a reply to criticisms of the Strong Programme presented by Stephen Kemp who develops some new lines of argument that focus on the ‘monism’ of the programme. He says the programme should be rejected for three reasons. First, because it embodies ‘weak idealism’, that is, its supporters effectively sever the link between language and the world. Second, it challenges the reasons that scientists offer in explanation of their own beliefs. Third, it destroys the distinction between successful and unsuccessful instrumental action. Kemp is careful to produce quotations from the supporters of the programme as evidence to support his case. All three points deserve and are given a detailed response and the interpretation of the quoted material plays a significant role in the discussion. My hope is that careful exegesis will offset the numerous misinterpretations that are current in the philosophical literature. Particular attention is paid to what is said about the normative standards involved in the application of empirical concepts. The operation of these standards in the face of the negotiability of all concepts is explored and misapprehensions on the topic are corrected. The work of Wittgenstein, Popper, Kuhn and Hesse is used to illustrate these themes.     

Saving the Strong Programme? A critique of David Bloor’s recent work

This article critically appraises David Bloor’s recent attempts to refute criticisms levelled at the Strong Programme’s social constructionist approach to scientific knowledge. Bloor has tried to argue, contrary to some critics, that the Strong Programme is not idealist in character, and it does not involve a challenge to the credibility of scientific knowledge. I argue that Bloor’s attempt to deflect the charge of idealism, which calls on the self-referential theory of social institutions, is partially successful. However, I suggest that although the Strong Programme should not be accused of ‘strong idealism’, it is still vulnerable to the criticism that it entails a form of ‘weak idealism’. The article moves on to argue that, contrary to Bloor, constructionist approaches do challenge the credibility of the scientific knowledge that they analyse. I conclude the article by arguing that sociological analyses of scientific knowledge can be conducted without the weak idealism and the credibility-challenging assumptions of the Strong Programme approach.     

神话逻各斯--解读《德意志观念论体系的源始纲领》以及浪漫“新神话”

《德意志观念论体系的源始纲领》是德国观念论与浪漫派的开篇之作。作为一种征兆，它指向一个时代，归属于由多个作者构成的“星丛”，呈现了观念论与浪漫派之间互动涵濡的“观念单元”。德意志观念论与浪漫主义思潮初登历史堂奥，就注定要置身于神话与理性的生死纠结之中。以神话来完成逻各斯，将启蒙进行到底，便是观念论与浪漫派的志业，这份志业表述在浪漫主义“理性的神话”提案之中。而与之相联系的“感性宗教”提案，就是一个变形的灵知教义神话，一个变形的神话逻各斯。观念论与浪漫派所膜拜的“灵”同灵知主义藉以超越世界而寻求不朽神性的“灵”，存在着血脉传承的关系。所谓“人类最后的伟业丰功”，乃是“新神话”的终结，染上了浓烈的乌托邦色彩，甚至可以说是神话-逻各斯-教义三者互相涵濡彼此杂糅而成的幻象体系。     

人才专业结构规划制定的研究

在制定人才发展规划过程中,人才的专业结构一直是难以解决的问题。本文用Delphi法获得单准则的专业排序,用数学方法处理得到多准则的排序结果的基础上,应用FHW方法,使定性和定量有机结合起来,圆满解决人才专业结构规划问题。本文论述了此方法,并结合实例(以淄博市为例)进行了研究。     

自动变速器故障的程序化诊断

自动变速器结构复杂,故障涉及面广,正确的诊断程序决定了自动变速器的检修效率与质量。本文就自动变速器的诊断程序、内容和方法进行了探讨。     

关于《山西省“十五”科技发展计划》（草案）的说明

文章概要说明了《山西省“十五”科技发展计划》（草案）的编制过程及重点。     

用程控增益与分档搜索法实现高精度对数放大

本文提出了用程控增益及分档线性搜索的方法取代高精度对数放大器的设计思想,并介绍了实施的原理框图与程序设计方法.文中还对测量误差进行了分析.     

东莞市“十一五”成人教育发展调研报告

通过整理东莞市教育局提供的数据和东莞理工学院成人教育发展的数据,走访东莞市成人教育兄弟院校和单位,了解东莞市."十五"期间成人教育发展的现状,总结经验和成绩,分析存在的问题,预测"十一五"期间东莞市成人教育发展的趋势,提出了东莞理工学院成人教育发展的对策.     

基于PC总线工控机的图形化自动编程在CNC机床中的应用

本文针对CNC机床的某些不足,提出了一种图形化自动编程系统可在PC机与CNC机床组成的互联系统下,实现方便、实用的数控操作。     

Overmathematisation in game theory: pitting the Nash Equilibrium Refinement Programme against the Epistemic Programme

The paper argues that the Nash Equilibrium Refinement Programme was less successful than its competitor, the Epistemic Programme (Interactive Epistemology). The prime criterion of success is the extent to which the programmes were able to reach the key objective guiding non-cooperative game theory for much of the twentieth century, namely, to develop a complete characterisation of the strategic rationality of economic agents in the form of the ultimate solution concept for any normal form and extensive game. The paper explains this in terms of unjustified degrees of mathematisation in Nash Equilibrium Refinement Programme. While this programme’s mathematical models were often inspired by purely mathematical concerns rather than the economic phenomena they were intended to model, the Epistemic Programme’s models were developed with a keen eye to the role beliefs and desires play in strategic interaction between rational economic agents playing games; that is, their interactive epistemology. The Epistemic Programme succeeded in developing mathematical models formalising aspects of strategic interaction that remained implicit in the Nash Equilibrium Refinement Programme (NERP) owing to an unjustified degree of mathematisation. As a result, the Epistemic Programme is the more successful theory.