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Third excursion
an epistemology of the uncertain
pp. 119-122
Abstract
Modern science is generally designed to eliminate uncertainty and ambivalence. There are many theoretical tools and practices in science to distil solid knowledge from the occasional and unpredictable dynamics of the world. Thinking with the aid of theoretical postulates and paradigmatic cores, the requirement for the repeatability of experiments and observations, and conventional use of statistical methods (that restrain minorities and exclude unique entities) are some means that are used to build reliable and solid knowledge in the sciences. Such inclination towards hard data is probably an inevitable aspect of the biological sciences, but it certainly has its cost. Namely, downplaying or ignoring processes that are occasional, unique or uncertain, become problematic in cases where ambivalence and fuzziness are characteristic properties of an object under study.
Publication details
Published in:
Maran Timo (2017) Mimicry and meaning: structure and semiotics of biological mimicry. Dordrecht, Springer.
Pages: 119-122
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-50317-2_10
Full citation:
Maran Timo (2017) Third excursion: an epistemology of the uncertain, In: Mimicry and meaning, Dordrecht, Springer, 119–122.