Economics Of Scientific Knowledge:A Naturalized Epistemology Of Science Based On Economics

The economics of scientific knowledge(ESK)is a naturalized epistemology to study the scientific knowledge and scientific cognition,taking economics as a research tool.It has reached a consensus on the concept,at the same time,there are still many differences.ESK is different from the economics of science,old and new economics of science.But it can be equated with the economic epistemology,economic philosophy of science in the current literature.It takes the scientist's selfish motive as the logical starting point,using the hypothesis-deduction modeling analysis and applying the individualism and holism methodology synthetically.It has formal approach and idea market approach.It has developed in the context of dilemma of scientific epistemology,naturalized epistemology,and the two-way road of philosophy of science-economics.It is different from the previous economic discourse in epistemology of science,and has many theoretical advantages.Its primary theoretical features include modeling and its clarity,describing realistic possibilities rather than actual determinism,a certain alienation with the experience case,scalability and openness,diversity and complexity.It has presents the trend of computer simulation and mathematical calculations,emphasizing individual scientists seeking credit,status and other individual interests in the near future.ESK has its own unique views on the motives and economic rationality of scientific agents,scientific development modes,scientific knowledge effectiveness,and scientific rules.ESK can be divided into social cognition paradigm and pan-social cognition paradigm according to the distinction of cognition and non-cognition interests which scientific agents pursue.Scientific agents are producers and managers.The economic rationality of scientific agents can be described as instrumental rationality involving cognition and situated rationality of ideal models,and can be compared with practical rationality and pragmatic reason.The development of science can be divided into equilibrium and evolution mode.This analysis makes the characteristics of the validity of scientific knowledge different from the previous rationality of knowledge.The existence of scientific rules is necessary for the development of science under economic comprehension.Scientific rules combine cognition rules with social rules,and highlight the epistemological significance of social rules.There are two forms of existence for scientific rules in ESK.It has special links with individual interests and scientific goals,and its source and generation mechanism lead to a lot of discussion.Economic methodology and naturalized epistemology raise questions about ESK.The former includes experience level(such as the analogy of scientific idea market and commodity market)and philosophy level(such as the relationship between economic model and reality,methodological individualism).The latter includes the descriptive and normative nature,and the problem of reflexivity.ESK can use its modeling and other features to analyze and respond to these questions to a certain extent.In short,ESK has triggered a new perspective,new ideas for the epistemology of science,and encountered many problems at the same time.We need to address and study these problems deeply in order to understand and promote the development of ESK.