Artefactos. Philosophical Studies on Science and Technology

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Social and Engineering Sciences from Ronald Giere Constructive Realism

https://doi.org/10.14201/art2021101107120

Abstract

The constructive realism upholded by Ronald Giere can be used for a better understanding of the features of two fields of scientific research that tend to be demeaned by the traditional philosophical conceptions: social and engineering knowledge. Here we will argue that these two areas share relevant features, and that Giere’s modelistic proposal can be used to carry out a better analysis of their peculiarities. We will emphasize, on the one hand, his modelistic conception of science, and his consideration that models are similar to the world, and on the other, how this position affects the choice between theories. Specifically, we will deal with the special nature of laws in the social and engineering sciences, as well as the criteria by which scientists in these fields choose between different possible models. 
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Cuevas Badallo, A., & Torres González, O. (2021). Social and Engineering Sciences from Ronald Giere Constructive Realism. Artefactos. Philosophical Studies on Science and Technology, 10(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.14201/art2021101107120

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Author Biography

Ana Cuevas Badallo

,
Universidad de Salamanca
Presentación de Ana Cuevas Badallo: profesora titular de la Universidad de Salamanca en el departamento de Filosofía, Lógica y Estética y actual directora del Instituto de Estudios de la Ciencia y la Tecnología. Ha dirigido diversos proyectos de investigación, tanto públicos como privados en el ámbito de los Estudios Sociales sobre Ciencia y Tecnología. Ha sido directora del programa de posgrado en Estudios Sociales de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, título oficial de la misma universidad y Secretaria General de la Universidad de Salamanca entre los años 2009-2013. Especialista en el área de la filosofía de la ciencia y la tecnología y en cultura tecnológica. Ha realizado estancias en centros internacionales tales como la Universidad de Helsinki con el profesor Ilkka Niiniluoto, en la Universidad de Delaware, con el profesor Paul Durbin, en la Universidad de Delft, con el profesor Peter Kroes y en la Universidad de Valaparaiso (Chile) como profesora invitada. Autora de diversos artículos que versan de epistemología, ontología y axiología de la tecnología.   Ana Cuevas Badallo is associated professor at the Philosophy department, and Researcher at the Institute for Science and Technology Studies (Ecyt) at the University of Salamanca (Spain). She received her PhD in Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country and has been the academic director of the Ecyt and the Postgraduate program at the Institute, and the General Secretary of the University of Salamanca. She published on technological sciences epistemology, technological bio-artefacts and public participation in science and technology. She coordinated several research projects on Public Understanding of Science focusing on biotechnology and public participation in scientific and technological controversies. She has been visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki (Finland), the University of Delaware (USA), the University of Delft (The Netherlands) and the University of Valparaiso (Chile).
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