<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>One of the critical issues in the philosophy of science is to understand scientific knowledge. This paper proposes a novel approach to the study of reflection on science, called “cognitive metascience”. In particular, it offers a new understanding of scientific knowledge as constituted by various kinds of scientific representations, framed as cognitive artifacts. It introduces a novel functional taxonomy of cognitive artifacts prevalent in scientific practice, covering a huge diversity of their formats, vehicles, and functions. As a consequence, toolboxes, conceptual frameworks, theories, models, and individual hypotheses can be understood as artifacts supporting our cognitive performance. It is also shown that by empirically studying how artifacts function, we may discover hitherto undiscussed virtues and vices of these scientific representations. This paper relies on the use of language technology to analyze scientific discourse empirically, which allows us to uncover the metascientific views of researchers. This, in turn, can become part of normative considerations concerning virtues and vices of cognitive artifacts.</p>
</abstract>

One of the critical issues in the philosophy of science is to understand scientific knowledge. This paper proposes a novel approach to the study of reflection on science, called “cognitive metascience”. In particular, it offers a new understanding of scientific knowledge as constituted by various kinds of scientific representations, framed as cognitive artifacts. It introduces a novel functional taxonomy of cognitive artifacts prevalent in scientific practice, covering a huge diversity of their formats, vehicles, and functions. As a consequence, toolboxes, conceptual frameworks, theories, models, and individual hypotheses can be understood as artifacts supporting our cognitive performance. It is also shown that by empirically studying how artifacts function, we may discover hitherto undiscussed virtues and vices of these scientific representations. This paper relies on the use of language technology to analyze scientific discourse empirically, which allows us to uncover the metascientific views of researchers. This, in turn, can become part of normative considerations concerning virtues and vices of cognitive artifacts.

Cognitive Artifacts and Their Virtues in Scientific Practice

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Cognitive Artifacts and Their Virtues in Scientific Practice"}

One of the critical issues in the philosophy of science is to understand scientific knowledge. This paper proposes a novel approach to the study of reflection...

Cognitive Artifacts and Their Virtues in Scientific Practice

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 219 - 246

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2022-0012

Keywords
cognitive artifacts, virtues, scientific knowledge, scientific practice, cognitive metascience

© 2022 Marcin Miłkowski, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Cognitive Artifacts and Their Virtues in Scientific Practice

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 219 - 246

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2022-0012

Keywordscognitive artifacts, virtues, scientific knowledge, scientific practice, cognitive metascience

© 2022 Marcin Miłkowski, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
cognitive artifacts, virtues, scientific knowledge, scientific practice, cognitive metascience