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Distributed Cognition and the Task of Science.
- Source :
- Social Studies of Science (Sage Publications, Ltd.); Apr2007, Vol. 37 Issue 2, p297-310, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- This paper gives a characterization of distributed cognition (d-cog) and explores ways that the framework might be applied in studies of science. I argue that a system can only be given a d-cog description if it is thought of as performing a task. Turning our attention to science, we can try to give a global d-cog account of science or local d-cog accounts of particular scientific projects. Several accounts of science can be seen as global d-cog accounts: Robert Merton's sociology of scientific norms, Philip Kitcher's 20th-century account of cognitive labor, and Kitcher's 21st-century notion of well-ordered science. Problems that arise for them arise just because of the way that they attribute a function to science. The paper concludes by considering local d-cog accounts. Here, too, the task is the crux of the matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 03063127
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Social Studies of Science (Sage Publications, Ltd.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24835818
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312706072177