Article ID: CBB000771908

Ideals and Monisms: Recent Criticisms of the Strong Programme in the Sociology of Knowledge (2007)

unapi

I offer a reply to criticisms of the Strong Programme presented by Stephen Kemp who develops some new lines of argument that focus on the `monism' of the programme. He says the programme should be rejected for three reasons. First, because it embodies `weak idealism', that is, its supporters effectively sever the link between language and the world. Second, it challenges the reasons that scientists offer in explanation of their own beliefs. Third, it destroys the distinction between successful and unsuccessful instrumental action. Kemp is careful to produce quotations from the supporters of the programme as evidence to support his case. All three points deserve and are given a detailed response and the interpretation of the quoted material plays a significant role in the discussion. My hope is that careful exegesis will offset the numerous misinterpretations that are current in the philosophical literature. Particular attention is paid to what is said about the normative standards involved in the application of empirical concepts. The operation of these standards in the face of the negotiability of all concepts is explored and misapprehensions on the topic are corrected. The work of Wittgenstein, Popper, Kuhn and Hesse is used to illustrate these themes.

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Description Reply to a 2005 article by Stephen Kemp. See also:


Includes Series Articles

Article Kemp, Stephen (2007) Concepts, Anomalies and Reality: A Response to Bloor and Fehér. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science (p. 241). unapi

Article Fehér, Márta (2007) Saving the Strong Programme: A Critique of Stephen Kemp's Recent Paper. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science (p. 235). unapi

Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB000771908/

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Authors & Contributors
Wehrens, Rik
Tosh, Nick
Zhang, Xiang
Xu, Jun
Weinberg, Steven
Wang, Yan-yu
Concepts
Science studies, theoretical works
Sociology of knowledge
Philosophy of science
Epistemology
Science and society
Historiography
Time Periods
21st century
20th century, late
20th century
19th century
Places
Norway
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