Download This PaperTheories and Laws of Scientific Development
Working Paper CocciaLab n. 50/2020, CNR -- National Research Council of Italy.
34 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2020
Date Written: April 5, 2020
Abstract
How does science evolve? This study confronts this problem here by showing different models of scientific development from sociology, philosophy and history of science. Firstly, this paper clarifies the concept of science and scientific research. Secondly, the study proposes different theories that can explain how science and its scientific disciplines develop over the course of time. Thirdly, some relevant laws about the production and evolution of science and scientific fields are presented. Overall, then, this study clarifies, as far as possible, some approaches and characteristics of the evolutionary dynamics of science that can lay a foundation for the development of comprehensive properties to explain the advancement of science and technology in society.
Keywords: Dynamics of Science; Scientific Development; Scientific Change; Scientific Specialization; Specialties; Scientific Specialty; Evolution of Science; Scientific Progress; Scientific Paradigm; Branching in Science; Orthodoxy in Science; Research Fields; Scientific Disciplines; Scientific Knowledge; Soc
JEL Classification: A19; C00; I23; L30
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