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

<p>The paper focuses on knowledge generation, a topic frequently overlooked in the traditional debates in epistemology and philosophy of science. We focus on investigation as the primary process generating knowledge and its products. Investigation is taken as a generalization of the research process that includes similar knowledge-generating practices in aboriginal communities. To characterize the complexity of investigation processes and their products we go beyond traditional epistemological characterization of knowledge in terms of mental states and turn to the concept of routine. Investigation processes share a common symbolic representation form which we call here a <italic>knowledge thread</italic>. The dynamics of the knowledge thread may be characterized by two intertwined tiers: cognitive and institutional. Using examples from our previous studies, especially on the recent discovery of microRNAs in molecular biology, we illustrate the dynamics of threads and claim that it is susceptible to the social network analysis which, however, requires insightful applications and sound interpretation of the results. Such an interpretation, as we suggest, may further be elaborated on the grounds of anthropological theories of distributed agency and distributed cognition.</p>
</abstract>

The paper focuses on knowledge generation, a topic frequently overlooked in the traditional debates in epistemology and philosophy of science. We focus on investigation as the primary process generating knowledge and its products. Investigation is taken as a generalization of the research process that includes similar knowledge-generating practices in aboriginal communities. To characterize the complexity of investigation processes and their products we go beyond traditional epistemological characterization of knowledge in terms of mental states and turn to the concept of routine. Investigation processes share a common symbolic representation form which we call here a knowledge thread. The dynamics of the knowledge thread may be characterized by two intertwined tiers: cognitive and institutional. Using examples from our previous studies, especially on the recent discovery of microRNAs in molecular biology, we illustrate the dynamics of threads and claim that it is susceptible to the social network analysis which, however, requires insightful applications and sound interpretation of the results. Such an interpretation, as we suggest, may further be elaborated on the grounds of anthropological theories of distributed agency and distributed cognition.

Knowledge Routines, Threads and Network Dynamics

Faculty of Philosophy John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

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

{"article-title":"Knowledge Routines, Threads and Network Dynamics"}

The paper focuses on knowledge generation, a topic frequently overlooked in the traditional debates in epistemology and philosophy of science. We focus on...

Knowledge Routines, Threads and Network Dynamics

Online veröffentlicht: 30. Dez. 2022

Seitenbereich: 247 - 268

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2022-0013

Schlüsselwörter
knowledge dynamics, microRNA, network analysis, projection, Kazimierz Twardowski

© 2022 Paweł Kawalec et al., published by Sciendo

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

Knowledge Routines, Threads and Network Dynamics

Online veröffentlicht: 30. Dez. 2022

Seitenbereich: 247 - 268

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2022-0013

Schlüsselwörterknowledge dynamics, microRNA, network analysis, projection, Kazimierz Twardowski

© 2022 Paweł Kawalec et al., published by Sciendo

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

Schlüsselwörter
knowledge dynamics, microRNA, network analysis, projection, Kazimierz Twardowski