In this article we will pay attention to the definition of the question of what are the forms of scientific knowledge and what they are. Here the concept of knowledge and science will be defined, and many varieties of this form of studying the world will be studied. For example, we will learn about analysis and synthesis, deduction and induction, etc.
Introduction
Before determining for yourself what a form of scientific knowledge is, you should determine the semantic meaning of knowledge.
Knowledge means an objective reality that lives in the human mind and in its expression reflects the structure of the real world, its patterns; means of communication with the real world. Cognition is a socially conditioned process during which an individual acquires knowledge that can expand his consciousness and picture of perception of the world. Science is one of the varieties of social consciousness; it is ordered and can be supplemented as a result of social practices. The structure of the world causes many difficulties that need to be addressed. For this, it is important to have a lot of knowledge gainedin both theoretical and empirical ways.
Levels of knowledge
Forms and methods of scientific knowledge are a single system created by man to generalize and systematize knowledge in areas. However, they all have a common "source". The phenomenon of scientific knowledge and its analysis allow us to distinguish two methodologies of activity of the same kind:
- Means inherent in human cognition, on the basis of which practical and scientific knowledge is created: universal ways of cognition.
- Means that are subject only to the scientific type of knowledge. They are divided into empirical and theoretical methods of science.
All forms of scientific knowledge flow from the fundamental principle, the aforementioned levels of theorist and empiricism. The latter (empiricism) focuses directly on working with the object under study and is realized with the help of observations and experiments. Theoretical knowledge is a generalizing circle of ideological and hypothetical knowledge, as well as laws and principles. Science has chosen nature as the subject of knowledge, and at various levels of complexity of the organization of matter. Scientific knowledge tries to clearly distinguish and define the relationship between reality, knowledge and belief of the subject and object of knowledge.
General Synthesis
Forms of scientific theoretical knowledge are not isolated from each other. All disciplines are interconnected in many ways and determine issues related to being (ontology) and the doctrine ofthe universal series of laws of being, cognition (dialectic) and methodology. The normal functioning of the theory of knowledge is possible only with a clearly defined system of methods. First of all, this is a set of philosophical reasoning and methods (dialectics, phenomenology, hermeneutics), a general scientific range of means (synthesis and analysis operation, inductive and deductive features of inferences, analogies and modeling).
Scientific Tool
Scientific methods are a system of principles that can be adjusted. Also, these are various techniques and ways of achieving objective knowledge of reality within the limits of scientific and cognitive action. The study of methods of scientific and cognitive activity, their possibilities and limits of application are integrated by the methodology of science.
Literally from ancient Greek the word "method" is translated as "the way to achieve a certain goal (problem solving)". Therefore, if we talk about the method in the broad sense of the word, then it means the total set of rationalized actions that must be resorted to in order to solve a specific goal or gain practical and theoretical experience. Methods are formed as a result of the flow of rational reflection performed on information of an objective (subjective) content in relation to the boundaries of certain abstract boundaries. Compliance with the method ensures the purposefulness of activity and its regulation, and also sets a logical component.
What is truth?
Forms and methods of scientific knowledge are closely related toinseparable problems of error and true meaning. Due to their semantic similarity, one is often mistaken for the other.
Truth is an adequate form of knowledge, the correspondence of our knowledge about the subject to the subject itself; true form of reflection of objective reality.
False is the opposite of truth; an inadequate form of knowledge in which there is a discrepancy between the object of consideration and information about it. It is also important to remember the concept of “lie”, which differs from delusion in that it is deliberate and is used most often for selfish purposes. Lies are misinformation. The theory of knowledge also includes such a term as "mistake" - the result of incorrectly performed actions of the subject in any field of activity. There are logical, factual, computational, political, economic and everyday errors. Truth can also be different: absolute (fundamental questions with factual answers), relative (subjective), specific (necessarily includes factors of time, place, etc.).
Feeling and rationality
Forms and levels of scientific knowledge include two types of analysis: sensory and rational. At the same time, the device of feelings is a combination of sensations, perception and representation, and rationalism cannot do without concepts, judgments and conclusions.
Any kind of reality has certain paradoxes, and the theory of knowledge is no exception. For example, it is possible to carry out the process of listening, but not to hear, it is possible to have information, but notunderstand her. Understanding is a dialogue between individuals, not just subjects and dialogues between their cultures. Understanding cannot be separated from self-understanding, moral and ethical values, and sincerity.
Universal tools
Forms of scientific knowledge are divided into universal, general scientific and highly specialized means and methodologies with a specific character, developed within a specific scientific discipline. The main forms of cognition are the methods of theoretical and empirical analysis, consideration and study. Most often, such methods operate within a well-established framework of cognitive practice. An example is a set of rules for physical, chemical and biological methods of conducting an experiment, analyzing it, etc.
Main set of principles
Forms of knowledge and scientific knowledge, regardless of the typology of research activities, lie on three fundamental principles - objectivity, systematicity and reproducibility:
- Objectivity is the alienation of the subjective (emotional and/or stereotypical) form of cognition from the object. In other words, prejudice must not be allowed to influence the cognitive scientific process.
- Systematicity is the orderliness of scientific-cognitive type of activity. Involves performing a systemic and ordered set of actions.
- Reproducibility is the ability to repeat all steps and phases of an analysis process in a scientific manner. Importantthe possibility of repeating experiments or experiments under the control and regulation of other researchers.
Introduction to analysis and synthesis
Solving a cognitive problem requires combining knowledge into a single form that allows you to give a clear and specific description of the object of study. In this case, the opinion will be based on knowledge about the properties, structure and nature of the subject. The unification is carried out by methods of analysis and synthesis, which are two universal and oppositely directed operations of reasoning:
- Analysis - defragmentation or separation of the whole picture of the subject into many components for a comprehensive study.
- Synthesis is a mental device that involves combining a previously selected set of parts of an object into a single scheme.
Analysis is natural, practical and mental. There are also concepts of meta-analysis and meta-synthesis.
Abstraction process
One of the main forms of scientific knowledge is the concept of abstraction - a mental technique based on diverting the attention of the cognizer from a set of properties and relations of a particular object of study. But at the same time, a person identifies for himself certain properties of interest to him. An example of abstracting actions is the creation of an abstraction, which can be either a single concept or an entire system.
The processes of abstraction include two levels of control based on the establishment of relative independentproperties and highlighting some of them due to the interest of the researcher.
Summarization process
Generalization is also a form of scientific knowledge - a mental device that allows you to establish a commonality between the properties and features of an object. Generalization operations are carried out in the form of transitions from private and/or less general judgments and concepts to more general ones. This process is closely related to the ability to abstract. The fact is that abstraction highlights specific qualitative characteristics of objects of knowledge, thereby allowing them to be further combined and generalized. Each object of a class has both an individual set of features and a set common to the entire class. Generalization has a certain limit of expansion, which can occur at a certain level of breadth of knowledge. It all ends with the creation of a philosophical division into categories with extremely wide "boundaries" of concepts. They are the scientific basis of knowledge.
The concept of induction and deduction
The structure of scientific knowledge and the form of scientific knowledge also includes the concept of induction and deduction:
- Induction - methods of reasoning and research methods that create a general conclusion based on a particular series of premises (it can be complete and incomplete).
- Deduction is a special form of reasoning, thanks to which a conclusion with a particular character is created from a general set of premises.
The main forms and levels of scientific knowledge are also the concepts of analogy and modeling; the first is based on finding similarities in features between objects. is associative andlogical. Modeling is a form of study based on the creation of a copy of the object under study. The model always has the same properties as the real object.
Empirical study
Empirical forms of scientific knowledge are another of the main methods of science. The experiment can be applied in a broad and narrow sense. The broad meaning combines the ordinary knowledge accumulated during the development of the practice of the human race. In a narrow sense, empirical research is a special stage of acquiring factual data about the object of study, based on observations and experiments.
Observation is a concretized form of perception of data about objective reality in relation to the subject being studied. It is direct, indirect and immediate. There is also the concept of measurement, based on fixing specific mathematical data.
