Research articles

A reflection on the alternative philosophy of science

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  • 1.School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China; 2.School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China;

Published date: 05 Dec 2009

Abstract

A prominent phenomenon in contemporary philosophy of science has been the unexpected rise of alternative philosophers of science. This article analyses in depth such alternative philosophers of science as Paul Feyerabend, Richard Rorty, and Michel Foucault, summarizing the similarities and differences between alternative philosophies of science and traditional philosophy of science so as to unveil the trends in contemporary philosophy of science. With its different principles and foundation, alternative philosophy of science has made breakthroughs in terms of its field of vision, scope, and methodology, and its relationship with science has become more humanistic and pluralistic. Attention should be given to alternative perspectives in the contemporary philosophy of science, and research should be expanded into the fields of the epistemology of science and cognitive science, the sociology of scientific knowledge and scientific anthropology, the scientific cultural philosophy, and scientific ethics.

Cite this article

LIU Dachun,, LIU Yongmou, . A reflection on the alternative philosophy of science[J]. Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 2009 , 4(4) : 576 -588 . DOI: 10.1007/s11466-009-0038-x

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