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Die filosofie en die bewerking van kontekste
Get PDFThe root metaphor of this dissertation is that items of knowledge are as foci against a background:, a situation which it calls a contextual relation. Truth, meaning and justification are impossible outside a context. In terms of this epistemology, the view is defended that Philosophy is intrinsically concerned with the f amily of skills which we use in treating knowledge contexts. The treatment of contexts is a polymorphous practice and includes describing, creating, analyzing and ordering contexts. reforming, In Part One, the above view is introduced and the epistemological angle for treating the nature of Philosophy is defended. The origin of the leading theory of knowledge of this dissertation, namely contextualism, is expounded and in the process arguments against rival epistemological. paradigms are brought to the fore. At the same time, it is argued that holisrn is not compatible with the true aim s of contextualism. In Part Two, the concept context is analized. The ways in which truth, meaning and reality are related to contexts are discussed. It is found that context should not be regarded in substantialist terms and that an attempt at a linear ordering of all contexts is a highly unpromising endeavour. In Part Three the meaning o f "the treatment of contexts" is illustrated by taking Plato's Theory of Forms and Quine's attack on the two dogmas of empiricism as particular examples. In Part Four, the model put forward in the dissertation is applied in a discussion of the nature of Philosophy and the teaching thereof, as well as the the question of the possibility of a final context.D. Phil. (Philosophy
Die metodes van verstaan en verklaar as kruispunt tussen die positiwistiese en idealistiese wetenskapsteoriee
No full textAbstract: Please refer to full text to view abstractM.A. (Philosophy
Die metodes van verstaan en verklaar as kruispunt tussen die positiwistiese en idealistiese wetenskapsteoriee
No full textAbstract: Please refer to full text to view abstractM.A. (Philosophy
'n Ondersoek na die verhouding tussen geloof en wetenskap in die filosofie van C.A. van Peursen
No full textThesis (M.A. (Philosophy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.The central issue in this study is the question of how insight into the relation between
faith and science in the philosophy of CA van Peursen can contribute to the wide ranging faith-science debate in contemporary thought. The study is contextualized by
asking how the resultant insight into the relation between faith and science can be
brought to bear on the notion of a "Christian science" as it has developed within a
specific philosophical tradition. It is argued that CA van Peursen's philosophy relies on the basic distinction between thought and reality, and more specifically, the interrelation between the two. Van Peursen utilizes a broad definition of rationality as networks of symbols with which human consciousness works, in order to facilitate an appropriate response to the challenges of its surroundings. At this point Van Peursen also makes use of the notion of "narrative" to emphasize the dynamic character of the symbolic networks that exist. Objective reality and subjective rationality can never be separated, but they are attuned to each other, and the one should, as it where, be "read off' against the other. A typology of the faith-science debate, that is developed in the initial stages of the study, is subsequently used as a heuristic instrument to draw out the implications of Van Peursen's philosophy for the question regarding the relation between faith and science. It is argued that Van Peursen's thought is consistently non-reductionist, in the sense that he grants both faith and science their own integrity. Faith and science are not equal, however. Faith constitutes a much broader, more immediate and concrete reaction to the challenges of reality than science does. Science strives towards objectivity and abstraction, and therein lies it's power, but it nevertheless always remains bound to the real world of everyday experience. Science therefore has a "relational autonomy". The insights gained into the relation between faith and science problematizes the idea
of a separate Christian science that is construed as being antithetical to so called
secular science. The notion of Christian science can be salvaged along two ways:
Christian science may be seen as a commitment to good science, and it may be seen as a dialogue between the narratives of western science and Christian faith.Master
Abstract: The theoretical model of this study is based on the hypothesis that three sets of variables affect the task performance of scientists, and resulting from that, their information needs. These variables are: (a) the purpose, problem area, and methods of the particular scientific discipline being practised; (b) environmental factors, especially those concerning the employing organization; and (c) the personal attributes of the scientist. In the development of this model a different approach has been taken from previous information user studies. Those s tudies were based on the asslllllption that the pr imary aim o f an information service was to satisfy the information requests of its potential users. The empirical investigations that had been carr ied out were aimed at collecting data on the information gathering behaviour of users, their preferences, and the flow of information, with the object of ascertaining whether the needs of users concerning information sources and services had been met. According to that approach, user satisfaction was the criterion by which the success of an infonnation service had been measured. Instead of the previous emphasis on the user, the task that has to be performed, i.e. the solving of problems, planning, decisionrnaking, etc., is put forward as the alternative focus of attention. This approach is based on the hypothesis that the primary aim of an information service is to contribute to the task performance of its potential users; hence the theoretical model is also called "the task perfonnance model". The success of an information service is now measured in terms of its contribution to task performance; in the pl ace of user satisfaction, the criterion now is user success...D.Litt.et Phil. (Information Science
'n Teoretiese model vir die bestuurdering van die inligtings-behoeftes van wetenskaplike
No full textAbstract: The theoretical model of this study is based on the hypothesis that three sets of variables affect the task performance of scientists, and resulting from that, their information needs. These variables are: (a) the purpose, problem area, and methods of the particular scientific discipline being practised; (b) environmental factors, especially those concerning the employing organization; and (c) the personal attributes of the scientist. In the development of this model a different approach has been taken from previous information user studies. Those s tudies were based on the asslllllption that the pr imary aim o f an information service was to satisfy the information requests of its potential users. The empirical investigations that had been carr ied out were aimed at collecting data on the information gathering behaviour of users, their preferences, and the flow of information, with the object of ascertaining whether the needs of users concerning information sources and services had been met. According to that approach, user satisfaction was the criterion by which the success of an infonnation service had been measured. Instead of the previous emphasis on the user, the task that has to be performed, i.e. the solving of problems, planning, decisionrnaking, etc., is put forward as the alternative focus of attention. This approach is based on the hypothesis that the primary aim of an information service is to contribute to the task performance of its potential users; hence the theoretical model is also called "the task perfonnance model". The success of an information service is now measured in terms of its contribution to task performance; in the pl ace of user satisfaction, the criterion now is user success...D.Litt.et Phil. (Information Science
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Environmental ethics of the future
Get PDFIn future we shall have to enrich our impoverished and endangered world by substituting our claims on pleasure, comfort and power with a claim for responsibility and stewardship. By doing this we ought to transform nature from being the refuse-heap of technology into a breath of culture. The world was created for man to live on it and not to be mutilated and reduced to irredeemable chaos. As a criterion for our association with nature we must remember that everything that we are technologically capable of, is not necessarily morally desirable. We should not live and work at the expense of our environment but for the benefit of the environment. The tradition of man's dominion over nature should be replaced by a tradition of stewardship. This new approach to environmental ethics must constitute an inalienable part of a multi-disciplinary approach
Wetenskap met en sonder diepte?
Get PDFScience with and without depth?
In trying to understand science in interaction with its presuppositions, values and bona fides, an overview of three different but closely related dimensions or layers or zones of science present in the functioning of different disciplines is given in this article. Then the different paradigms, presuppositions and/or control beliefs typical of modernist and postmodernist theories of science are underlined. This approach could contribute towards understanding some of the modernist and postmodernist affiliations and inclinations toward specific dimensions or particular phases of the scientific venture. In the critical evaluation of these schools of thought the concept “science” is understood as a multi-dimensional knowledge act. The history of science contains no traces of science without its creeds. It is, however, agreed that science is also underdetermined by its presuppositions and that it should not be equated to a world and life view. What science ultimately is and should be cannot be rationally and scientifically fathomed. Lastly it is attempted to explain in what way our view of wisdom as a deeper dimension of science also allows for a deeper (than logical) critical discussion with scientists holding a different view of the world
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