论转型中的社会科学研究--兼议高度复杂性条件下的相似性思维

On Social Science Research in Transition——A Discussion on Similar Thinking in the Condition of High Complexity

人类既已拥有的科学是在工业社会这个历史阶段中建立起来的,认识论哲学是科学的全部基础。也就是说,认识论为科学研究提供了分析性思维,并决定了科学研究的目标追求和思维路向。近代以来的这个基于分析性思维的科学取得了辉煌业绩,甚至成了社会发展的杠杆和驱动器。然而,这一科学范式必须与研究环境以及研究对象的低度复杂性和低度不确定性联系在一起认识。而且,即便是在这一条件下,在许多科学业绩中,也可以看到相似性思维于其中所作出的贡献。在全球化、后工业化进程中,随着社会呈现出高度复杂性和高度不确定性,随着科学研究对象也具有了高度复杂性和高度不确定性,基于分析性思维的科学正在走向自己的反面,不仅不再能够提供真知,反而会对实践形成误导。然而,这却是科学发展的转折点。只要我们实现了相似性思维对分析性思维的置换,就能够把科学研究推向新的征程。

The science we have been established in the historic stage of industrial society, and epistemological philosophy is the full foundation of science. In other words, epistemology provides analytical thinking for scientific research and determines the goal pursuit and thinking direction of scientific research. The scientific thinking based on analytical thinking since modern times made brilliant achievements and even became the lever and driver of social development. We must recognize this scientific paradigm in connection with the low complexity and the low degree of uncertainty of the research environment, and even under this condition we can see in many scientific achievements which the similar thinking has made the contribution. In the process of globalization and post-industrialization, as society presents a high degree of complexity and uncertainty, as science objects have a high degree of complexity and uncertainty, science based on analytical thinking is moving towards its own opposite, not only can not provide true knowledge, but also will mislead the practice. However, this is a turning point in scientific development. As long as we realize the replacement of analytical thinking by similar thinking, we can push the scientific research to a new journey.