V.V. Nalimov "Faces of Science" Edited by R.G. Colodny

Contents
Publisher Information
Faces of Science
by V. V. NALIMOV
Edited by ROBERT
G . COLODNY
Illustrations bv M I K H A I ZLATKOVSKY
L
To Contents
Published by
0 1981 IS1 Press
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Naiimov, V. V. (Vasilii Vasil'evich), 1 9 1 s
Faces of Science.
Translation from the Russian
Includes bibliography
and index
.
I. Science-Philosophy.
2. Science-Methodology.
3. Mathematical linguistics. I. Colodny, Robert Garland.
Q175.N225
501
81-6654
AACR2
ISBN CL89495-010-X
~
11. Title
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photographic, or magnetic, without prior written permission of the publisher.
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Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTERI . The Structure of Science: Logic of Accepting
Hypotheses . , . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Problems in Science . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Hypotheses Are Formulated . . . . . . . .
How Hypotheses are Accepted . . . . . . . . .
Paradigm-a Protective Mechanism in Science . . . .
Mathematization of Knowledge as an Example o f Constructing a New Paradigm . . . . . . . . . .
How Science Grows . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Is the Probabilistic Evaluation of Hypotheses Possible? . .
What is Science? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Can the Epistemological Role in Discoveries Be Estimated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Some Historical Parallels and the Principal Consequence of
Popper's Concept of the Growth of Knowledge . . .
A Metaobserver's Glance at Science . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER2. Scientific Creativity as a Manifestation of Intellectual Rebellion: A Bayesian Approach to the Problem .
CHAPTER3. Mathematics as a Language of Science: Using
Mathematics to Describe the External World . . . .
Introduction: Formulation of the Problem . . . . . .
Axiomatic-Deductive Construction of Traditional Mathematics: Logical Structures of Pure Mathematics . . .
Limitations Imposed on Deductive Forms of Thinking by
Godel's Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Faces of Science
Mosaic Structures of the System of Judgments in Applied
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mathematics
Applied Mathematics as a Language: The Role of Sense
Content Underlying the System of Signs . . . . . .
Language of Mathematics as a Metalanguage: Mathematical Structures as Grammar of This Metalanguage . . .
Variety of "Dialects" of the Metalanguage of Mathematics .
Polysemy of the Language of Mathematics . . . . . .
Mathematical Model as a Question to Nature Asked by a
Researcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Peculiarities of Teaching Applied Mathematics . . . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER4 . Why DO We Use Probabilistic Concepts to Describe the World? . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Criticism by T . R . Fine and V . N . Tutubalin . . . . .
History of Determinism . . . . . . . . . . . .
History of the Teaching of Chance . . . . . . . .
Formation of a Probabilistic Paradigm . . . . . . .
Ontology of Chance . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER5 . The Distribution Function of Probabilities as a
Way to Determine Fuzzy Sets: Sketches for a Metatheory
(A Dialogue with Zadeh) . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Distribution of Possibilities . . . . . . . . .
Randomness as a Synonym of Fuzziness . . . . . .
Fuzziness of Language Semantics . . . . . . . . .
Extraparametric (Qualitative) Analysis of the Probabilistic
Distribution Function . . . . . . . . . . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER6 . On Some Parallels Between the Bohr Complementarity Principle and the Metaphoric Structure of Ordinary Language . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER7 . Science and the Biosphere: An Attempt at a
Comparative Study of the Two Systems . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Emergence of Systems . . . . . . . . . . .
Informationally Developing Systems Should Have Their
Own Mechanism to Overcome Godel's Difficulties . .
A Model with a Chance Generator . . . . . . . .
Contents
The Language of Science and the Biosphere, Two SelfOrganizing Systems . . . . . . . . . . . .
1nteractionwithExternalInformation. . . . . . .
Exponential and Logistic Growth: Creation of Favorable
Ecological Situations . . . . , . . . . . . .
Fecundation as a Process of Information Interaction . .
Communities in the Biosphere and in Science . . . . .
The System's Freeing of Itself from Outdated Carriers of
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The System of Restrictions That Stabilize Development. .
The Single Wave of Evolution . . . . . . . . . .
The Teleological Nature of a System . . . . . . . .
A Glance at the Future . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER8. The Problem of Complexity in Describing the
World Scientifically: A Formal Analysis of Difficulties in
Constructing Theoretical Biology . . . . . . . .
Psychological Grounds for Judging Whether a Statement 1s
True . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compactness of Theoretical Constructions in Physics . .
Is a Compact Description of Knowledge Possible in
Biology? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Role of Computers in Efforts to Describe the World
Scientifically . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Concluding Remarks: Dialectics of Reduction and Expansion of Knowledge in the Development of Science. . .
CHAPTER9. The Penetration of the Humanities into Other
Fields of Knowledge: Reflection on the Ways in Which
Science Develops . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Penetration of the Humanities into Scientific Disciplines .
Cybernetic Nature of Science . . . . . . . . . .
"Humanization" of Education . . . . . . . . . .
The Need for Staff Educated in the Humanities . . . .
Resistance to the "Humanization" of Knowledge . . . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER10. 1s a Scientific Approach to the Eschatological Problem Possible? A Logical Analysis of the Problem
of Global Ecology . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Logical Analysis of the Problem of Forecasting . . . .
Comparative Study of Cultures as a Way to Understanding
the Peculiarities of Our Behavior . . . . . . . .
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Faces of Science
Dullness as an lndex of the Quality of Culture . . . . .
Probabilistic Model of Social Behavior . . . . . . .
The Role of Science in the Evolving Ecological Crisis . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER11. Geographic Distribution of Scientific Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Stocking of the Library of Odessa University with
Scientific Journals . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Distribution of Foreign Scientific Journals Among Separate
Scientific Centers of the Soviet Union . . . . . .
Distribution of the Journals Biometrika. Technometrics.
and Lancet Among the Countries of the World . . . .
World Distribution of Science Citation Index . . . . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER12. On the Stock Exchange of Science: Changing
Demand for Intellectuals . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Analysis of Employment Advertisements in Nature and
New Scientisr and Science Journal . . . . . . . .
Analysis of Employment Advertisements in the Times of
London . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . .
CHAPTER13 . Instead of a Conclusion . . . . . . .
References . .
Index of Names .
lndex of Subjects
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