从逻辑理性到公共理性——科学合理性问题的困境与出路

From Logical Rationality to Public Rationality:The Scientific Rationality Dilemma and a Way Out

尽管科学合理性的各种论证从某种角度提供了理解科学合理性的线索,但同时都留下了巨大困惑。随着后现代主义及其“另类”科学哲学的崛起,科学合理性的论证似乎更加困难。然而,解决这一困局的关键在于,如何界定理性。具体看,如果将理性界定为分析哲学意义上的逻辑理性,那么科学合理性问题恐怕就是无解的。因为,作为人类的一种社会的、历史的文化活动,科学在很大程度上并不能用数学式的逻辑理性概括,所以,将理性界定为科学实践意义上的公共理性,科学的合理性问题不仅有解,而且能寻找到走出困境的出路和希望。

Although the various arguments for scientific rationality provide clues for its understanding from certain perspectives,they have unfortunately left a great deal of confusion in their wake,and this dilemma seems to have become even trickier with the rise of postmodernism and its alternative philosophy.However,the key to solving this dilemma lies in how one defines rationality.Specifically,if it is defined as logical rationality in the sense of analytic philosophy,the question of scientific rationality is probably insoluble,since science,as a human social,historical and cultural activity,to a large extent cannot be covered by logical mathematical rationality.Therefore,if one defines rationality as public rationality in the sense of scientific practice,scientific rationality will not only have a solution,but will also find a way out of this dilemma that gives hope.