Overgaard (2017)

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Overgaard, Nicholas. (2017) A Taxonomy for the Social Agents of Scientific Change. Scientonomy 1, 55-62. Retrieved from https://www.scientojournal.com/index.php/scientonomy/article/view/28234.

Title A Taxonomy for the Social Agents of Scientific Change
Resource Type journal article
Author(s) Nicholas Overgaard
Year 2017
URL https://www.scientojournal.com/index.php/scientonomy/article/view/28234
Journal Scientonomy
Volume 1
Pages 55-62

Abstract

Although we accept that a scientific mosaic is a set of theories and methods accepted and employed by a scientific community, scientific community currently lacks a proper definition in scientonomy. In this paper, I will outline a basic taxonomy for the bearers of a mosaic, i.e. the social agents of scientific change. I begin by differentiating between accidental group and community through the respective absence and presence of a collective intentionality. I then identify two subtypes of community: the epistemic community that has a collective intentionality to know the world, and the non-epistemic community that does not have such a collective intentionality. I note that both epistemic and non-epistemic communities might bear mosaics, but that epistemic communities are the intended social agents of scientific change because their main collective intentionality is to know the world and, in effect, to change their mosaics. I conclude my paper by arguing we are not currently in a position to properly define scientific community per se because of the risk of confusing pseudoscientific communities with scientific communities. However, I propose that we can for now rely on the definition of epistemic community as the proper social agent of scientific change.

Theories

Here are all the theories formulated in Overgaard (2017):

TheoryTypeFormulationFormulated In
Community (Overgaard-2017)DefinitionA group that has a collective intentionality.2017
Group (Overgaard-2017)DefinitionTwo or more people who share any characteristic.2017
Epistemic Community (Overgaard-2017)DefinitionA community that has a collective intentionality to know the world.2017
Non-Epistemic Community (Overgaard-2017)DefinitionA community that does not have a collective intentionality to know the world.2017
Accidental Group (Overgaard-2017)DefinitionA group that does not have a collective intentionality.2017
Epistemic Community Can be Part of Non-Epistemic Community (Overgaard-2017)DescriptiveA non-epistemic community can consist of epistemic communities.2017
Community Can Have Subcommunities (Overgaard-2017)DescriptiveA community can consist of other communities.2017
Epistemic Community ExistsDescriptiveThere is such a thing as an epistemic community.2017

Suggested Modifications

Here are all the modifications suggested in Overgaard (2017):

  • Sciento-2017-0012: Accept a new taxonomy for group and its two sub-types - accidental group, and community. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Nicholas Overgaard on 19 May 2017.1 The modification was accepted on 2 February 2018. A consensus has emerged after a long discussion that the distinction and the respective definitions should be accepted. It was noted that "these formulations tend to be the starting point for so many of our discussions"c1 and that "despite all disagreements that this taxonomy causes, it is actually accepted by the community".c2 Yet, it was also indicated that whereas the definition of group as "two or more people that share a characteristic" is the best we have at the moment, it may be potentially necessary to pursue the idea of redefining it as "one or more people..." to allow for one-scientist communities.c3 Finally, while a question was raised whether there is any "value in defining accidental groups as something separate from groups",c4 it was eventually agreed that it is important to draw "a clear distinction between the two kinds of groups as accidental groups and communities".c5
  • Sciento-2017-0013: Accept that communities can consist of other communities, i.e. that there is such a thing as a sub-community. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Nicholas Overgaard on 19 May 2017.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.
  • Sciento-2017-0014: Provided that the definition of community is accepted, accept new definitions of epistemic community and non-epistemic community as sub-types of community. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Nicholas Overgaard on 19 May 2017.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.
  • Sciento-2017-0015: Provided that the distinction between epistemic and non-epistemic communities is accepted, accept that a non-epistemic community can consist of epistemic communities. The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Nicholas Overgaard on 19 May 2017.1 The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending. The modification can only become accepted once modifications Sciento-2017-0013 and Sciento-2017-0014 all become accepted.


References

  1. a b c d  Overgaard, Nicholas. (2017) A Taxonomy for the Social Agents of Scientific Change. Scientonomy 1, 55-62. Retrieved from https://www.scientojournal.com/index.php/scientonomy/article/view/28234.