https://jacobzelko.com/05222022050357-non-linearity-science/

[giscus[bot]]

https://jacobzelko.com/05222022050357-non-linearity-science/

The radical view that Thomas Kuhn introduced that science itself is not moving to any specific truth but rather that the scientific organ continues to move forward in a very heap-like fashion.

https://jacobzelko.com/05222022050357-non-linearity-science/

[abesamma]

While scientific progress is non linear, our north star if you will remains constant: looking for theoretical frameworks that best describe, explain and predict reality.

[TheCedarPrince]

Hi @abesamma, thanks for commenting and hope you are having a wonderful day! In principle, I agree with you mostly. To Kuhn's point however, I think the problem that is present with science as a whole is what scientists believe reality to be and what is "best" -- further, looking at the works of folks like Feyerabend, (such as in his excellent "Against Method" -- still finishing that note by the way!) it brings into question the "constant" nature of these pursuits. We end up having tribes of scientists who fall across different philosophical ideals (e.g. positivists, etc.) and perhaps even pernicious behavior (such as Organized Denialism) that fracture the science organ.

As a fun anecdote to illustrate my point, I have been working predominately in the realm of intersectionality theory and health disparities. I grabbed tea with the excellent Dr. Patricia Homan on discussed her fantastic piece, "Structural Intersectionality as a New Direction for health Disparities Research" and learned so much from her. In particular, I had been working independently in my "own" heap of biomedical informatics and had independently discovered this theory during my own research. It was only by serendipity I had discovered her world of Medical Sociology after being recommended by a collaborator, Sarah Gasman of Boston Medical Center, to read her paper. If I had not, I would've ignored a whole "heap" of science in pursuit of my own endeavors and recreating definitions.

Appreciate your thoughts and comments! Happy new Year!

P.S. I checked out your TiddlyWiki -- great stuff! Also, your notes on the Memex are great! Here are mine