The Subject-Oriented Approach to Knowing

The classical scientific approach take for valid a
common access to a pre-given world, which is a
rather risky and illfounded assumption. Quantum
physics, cybernetics, and computer science has shown
the scientist s self-assumed status of objectivity
to be both doubtful and a severe hindrance when
trying to understand human consciousness. This work
scrutinises the activities of science and in
particular modelling, and proposes a 2-step
metamodel of modelling to clarify and emphasize the
involvement of the observer. It use shows that the
prevailing Newtonian approach makes science unable
to describe its objects of discourse in an observer-
independent and consistent manner and is also
responsible for the genesis of Cartesian dualism.
When science, on the other hand, dresses up in a
Subject-Oriented Approach to Knowing it can be given
a consensual and consistent foundation but the
price to pay is the loss of ontology. Those
interested in the philosophies of science,
consciousness studies, human thinking and knowing
should benefit from this study, which forebodes a
considerable re-orientation of human thinking as
well as a profound shift of scientific paradigm.

Autorentext

PhD : Computer Science, Systems Science, and Philosophy of Science.Researcher at Dept. of Computer and Systems Sciences, KTH/Stockholm University.

Klappentext

The classical scientific approach take for valid a common access to a pre-given world, which is a rather risky and illfounded assumption. Quantum physics, cybernetics, and computer science has shown the scientist's self-assumed status of objectivity to be both doubtful and a severe hindrance when trying to understand human consciousness. This work scrutinises the activities of science and in particular modelling, and proposes a 2-step metamodel of modelling to clarify and emphasize the involvement of the observer. It use shows that the prevailing Newtonian approach makes science unable to describe its objects of discourse in an observer-independent and consistent manner and is also responsible for the genesis of Cartesian dualism. When science, on the other hand, dresses up in a Subject-Oriented Approach to Knowing it can be given a consensual and consistent foundation - but the price to pay is the loss of ontology. Those interested in the philosophies of science, consciousness studies, human thinking and knowing should benefit from this study, which forebodes a considerable re-orientation of human thinking as well as a profound shift of scientific paradigm.