Allen (2023)
Allen, Joshua. (2023) Epistemic Actions: A Scientonomic Framework. Scientonomy 5, 73-91. Retrieved from https://scientojournal.com/index.php/scientonomy/article/view/42266.
| Title | Epistemic Actions: A Scientonomic Framework |
|---|---|
| Resource Type | journal article |
| Author(s) | Joshua Allen |
| Year | 2023 |
| URL | https://scientojournal.com/index.php/scientonomy/article/view/42266 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.33137/js.v5i.42266 |
| Journal | Scientonomy |
| Volume | 5 |
| Pages | 73-91 |
Abstract
In a series of publications, Hasok Chang makes the case that activities carried out by epistemic agents form the basis of the scientific enterprise. This paper provides an action-based scientonomic perspective of scientific practice. I define epistemic action as an action of an epistemic agent that involves an epistemic element and highlight the difference between global and local actions. The availability of a local action to an epistemic agent amounts to the agent employing the norm that the local action is permissible/desirable. To unearth the mechanism by which local actions become available to epistemic agents, I derive the local action availability theorem, according to which, a local epistemic action becomes available to an agent only when its permissibility is derivable from a non-empty subset of other elements of the agent’s mosaic, i.e., from that agent’s employed norms and accepted theories. This framework is then applied to the emergence of the local action of determining the composition of chemical substances by weighing as practiced by Lavoisier and his followers; it is shown that the respective norm became employed in accord with the local action availability theorem.
Theories
Here are all the theories formulated in Allen (2023):
| Theory | Type | Formulation | Formulated In |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Epistemic Action (Allen-2023) | Definition | An epistemic action that is not available trans-historically to all epistemic agents, but is specific to some time periods or some agents. | 2023 |
| Epistemic Action (Allen-2023) | Definition | An action of an epistemic agent that involves an epistemic element. | 2023 |
| Global Epistemic Action (Allen-2023) | Definition | An epistemic action that is available to all epistemic agents trans-historically and universally. | 2023 |
| Local Action Availability (Allen-2023) | Definition | A local action A is said to be available to an epistemic agent iff that agent employs the norm “A is permissible/desirable”. | 2023 |
| Local Epistemic Action Exists | Descriptive | There is such a thing as a local epistemic action. | 2023 |
| Epistemic Action Exists | Descriptive | There is such a thing as an epistemic action. | 2023 |
| Local Epistemic Action Is a Subtype of Epistemic Action (Allen-2023) | Descriptive | Local Epistemic Action is a subtype of Epistemic Action, i.e. epistemic action is a supertype of local epistemic action. | 2023 |
| Local Action Availability theorem (Allen-2023) | Descriptive | A local epistemic action becomes available to an agent only when its permissibility/desirability is derivable from a non-empty subset of other elements of the agent’s mosaic. | 2023 |
| Global Epistemic Action Is a Subtype of Epistemic Action (Allen-2023) | Descriptive | Global Epistemic Action is a subtype of Epistemic Action, i.e. epistemic action is a supertype of global epistemic action. | 2023 |
| Global Epistemic Action Exists | Descriptive | There is such a thing as a global epistemic action. | 2023 |
Suggested Modifications
Here are all the modifications suggested in Allen (2023):
- Sciento-2023-0005: Accept the definition of epistemic action as an action of an epistemic agent that involves an epistemic element. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Joshua Allen on 31 December 2023.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.
- Sciento-2023-0006: Accept that epistemic actions can be local or global. Also accept the definition of global epistemic action as an epistemic action that is available to all epistemic agents trans-historically and universally and the definition of local epistemic action as an epistemic action that is not available trans-historically to all epistemic agents, but is specific to some time periods or some agents. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Joshua Allen on 31 December 2023.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.
- Sciento-2023-0007: Accept that the a local action A is said to be available to an epistemic agent iff that agent employs the norm “A is permissible/desirable”. Also accept the theorem of local action availability as a deductive consequence of this definition and the law of norm employment: a local epistemic action becomes available to an agent only when its permissibility/desirability is derivable from a non-empty subset of other elements of the agent’s mosaic. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Joshua Allen on 31 December 2023.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending. The modification can only become accepted once modification Sciento-2023-0006 becomes accepted.
