Suchergebnisse

The use of constructionism by climate change deniers and '9-11 truthers' to support 'post-fact' arguments in recent political and social debates has created controversy within science studies. Here, I seek to re-evaluate what constructionists actually say about facts in science. Through revisiting Gaston Bachelard – a key influence on scientific constructionism – I argue that science can penetrate to the 'noumenal core' of the phenomena it studies because it constructs them. This, however, need not imply that facts can be whatever we want them to be.

The use of constructionism by climate change deniers and '9-11 truthers' to support 'post-fact' arguments in recent political and social debates has created controversy within science studies. Here, I seek to re-evaluate what constructionists actually say about facts in science. Through revisiting Gaston Bachelard – a key influence on scientific constructionism – I argue that science can penetrate to the 'noumenal core' of the phenomena it studies because it constructs them. This, however, need not imply that facts can be whatever we want them to be. ; Politinėse ir visuomeninėse diskusijose "9–11" konspiracijos teorijos šalininkai ar neigiantieji klimato kaitą dažnai imasi konstruktyvizmo, kurį naudoja kaip "post-faktus" pagrindžiantį argumentą. Mokslo studijose konstruktyvizmas irgi sukėlė nemenką sumaištį, todėl šiame straipsnyje noriu naujai pažvelgti į tai, ką apie mokslo faktus kalbėjo patys šios intelektualinės tradicijos atstovai. Remdamasis Gastono Bachelardo įžvalgomis, labai svarbiomis mokslinio konstruktyvizmo sampratai, bandau įrodyti, kad mokslas gali prasiskverbti į tiriamų reiškinių "noumeno esmę" todėl, kad jis juos konstruoja. Tačiau tai nereiškia, kad moksliniai faktai gali tapti viskuo, kuo tik mes įsigeistume, kad jie būtų.

In view of the recent electoral victory by the British Labor Party, this article scrutinizes Tony Blair's policies from a liberal-as opposed to socialist or conservative-perspective. First, noting that liberal policies aim for limitations on the concentration of power (particularly executive power), the article examines the statements of Blair and other party members in concluding that new policies will more likely concentrate power than distribute it more evenly. Next, issues of taxation are considered, and it is concluded that Blair, like recent leaders before him, will be unwilling to raise taxes in order to salvage and repair important social projects. It is also suggested that Blair will continue to pursue policies which maintain high levels of unemployment, thus damaging the welfare state through diminished levels of available funds and through increased costs. The overall conclusion is that a Blair government is a Tory government by proxy. 24 References. T. K. Brown