Models, scientific realism, the intelligibility of nature, and their cultural significance

In this article, I will view realist and non-realist accounts of scientific models within the larger context of the cultural significance of scientific knowledge. I begin by looking at the historical context and origins of the problem of scientific realism, and claim that it is originally of cultural and not only philosophical, significance. The cultural significance of debates on the epistemological status of scientific models is then related to the question of ‘intelligibility’ and how science, through models, can give us knowledge of the world by presenting us with an ‘intelligible account/picture of the world’, thus fulfilling its cultural-epistemic role. Realists typically assert that science can perform this role, while non-realists deny this. The various strategies adopted by realists and non-realists in making good their respective claims, is then traced to their cultural motivations. Finally I discuss the cultural implications of adopting realist or non-realist views of models through a discussion of the views of Rorty, Gellner, Van Fraassen and Clifford Hooker on the cultural significance of scientific knowledge.     

What do numerical (climate) models really represent?

The translation of a mathematical model into a numerical one employs various modifications in order to make the model accessible for computation. Such modifications include discretizations, approximations, heuristic assumptions, and other methods. The paper investigates the divergent styles of mathematical and numerical models in the case of a specific piece of code in a current atmospheric model. Cognizance of these modifications means that the question of the role and function of scientific models has to be reworked. Neither are numerical models pure intermediaries between theory and data, nor are they autonomous tools of inquiry. Instead, theory and data are transformed into a new symbolic form of research due to the fact that computation has become an essential requirement for every scientific practice. Therefore the question is posed: What do numerical (climate) models really represent?     

科技文化:“人的自然”延展与整合之本

"人的自然"是一个统一的整体,包括人的"身外的自然"和"自身的自然"两个方面。科技文化是"人的自然"生成和发展过程中的关键变量,它极大地拓展了人的"身外的自然",不断开掘着人的"自身的自然"。以科技文化为切入点,反省近代科学世界观,有助于丰富和提升"人的自然"的整体性,并推进人类文化的当代转型。     

浅谈科研如何促进高职高专数学教学

通过数学教学活动的实践,得出科研是提高高职高专院校教学质量的助推器,并重点对科研如何促进数学教学进行了探讨。     

浅论术语学是知识技术的前提

20世纪70—80年代，随着信息技术的发展，人们越来越认识到术语学在知识产生、知识获取、知识代表和知识传递过程中所起的基础性作用。欧洲的术语学家从人们对信息流的研究和对知识秩序的重视上得到启发，设计了普通术语学的概念动力学模型，揭示出术语学和知识技术相互依赖、彼此依存的内在联系，并由此得出术语学和知识技术一体化的模型。文章着重对这一理论发展过程进行论述，以期为中国术语学理论提供一个新的研究视角。     

Representing with imaginary models: Formats matter

Models such as the simple pendulum, isolated populations, and perfectly rational agents, play a central role in theorising. It is now widely acknowledged that a study of scientific representation should focus on the role of such imaginary entities in scientists’ reasoning. However, the question is most of the time cast as follows: How can fictional or abstract entities represent the phenomena? In this paper, I show that this question is not well posed. First, I clarify the notion of representation, and I emphasise the importance of what I call the “format” of a representation for the inferences agents can draw from it. Then, I show that the very same model can be presented under different formats, which do not enable scientists to perform the same inferences. Assuming that the main function of a representation is to allow one to draw predictions and explanations of the phenomena by reasoning with it, I conclude that imaginary models in abstracto are not used as representations: scientists always reason with formatted representations. Therefore, the problem of scientific representation does not lie in the relationship of imaginary entities with real systems. One should rather focus on the variety of the formats that are used in scientific practice.     

新时期高校院所国家科技经费管理现状及对策

＂十二五＂时期,我国将进入以创新促转型,以转型促发展的新阶段,面对促进经济转型、创新发展模式的艰巨任务,高校院所是我国开展创新科学研究的一支重要力量。近年来,随着高等教育事业的蓬勃发展,高校院所承担的科研项目和筹措的科技经费均呈现大幅度增长,科技经费已成为高校院所重要的资金来源之一。如何提高国家科技经费的使用率、更好发挥国家财政科技经费的引导作用,是我国提高科技创新能力的一个重要任务。为提高国家财政科技经费资金使用效益,确保科研工作健康发展,需高度重视、加强高校院所国家财政科技经费管理及对策研究。     

以科学发展观为导向构建优秀医院文化对策研究

建立优秀的医院文化要以科学发展观为导向,通过分析当代医院文化发展的现状和存在的一些问题,即对"什么是医院文化、怎样建设优秀的医院文化"有了大致的了解,必须坚持科学发展观为核心,才能建立优秀的医院文化。在现代社会中,坚持科学发展观为导向对建设优秀的医院文化有重要的指导意义和实践价值。     

关于当代生命科学研究对象的划界、分析与表征的讨论

本文讨论了当代生命科学研究对象的划界、分析与表征的问题,首先围绕三个分主题对国际生物学的历史、哲学和社会学研究协会(ISHPSSB)2011年双年会的相关报告进行介绍并评论:关于基因组学与后基因组学的本体论和认识论问题;关于自然选择理论的扩展性的研究;对于生物学个体性概念的讨论,然后介绍了作者在共生语境下对生物学个体概念的研究进展。文章指出,对同一对象的不同表征模式以及对同一概念的不同分析方式,体现了两种科学传统在当代生命科学中的冲突与交汇;系统生物学力图综合不同研究范式,整合不同生命组织的层次,对其独特的研究方法、概念体系进行分析和讨论,将是未来生物学哲学的热门研究课题。     

自然科学论文的署名

本文分析署名的意义、原则和形式,并指出如何正确处理署名问题中的一些关系,认为署名是作为拥有版权或发明权的一个声明,以及反映文贵自负为一种精神,应该以科学求实的态度严肃地对待和处理。