Studies in history and philosophy of science and technology

Scientific discourse: formation, hybridization, disintermediation

2026-05-11T22:20:46+03:00

Scientific discourse has shifted from discourse within professional communities to open, global discourse in modern society. Analysis of scientific discourse is useful for understanding the role of science in public consciousness, the perception of science, the impact of science on society, the development of new approaches to popularizing science, etc. The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristics of scientific discourse as a historical, dynamic, multifaceted phenomenon and a leading element of modern society. Research results. The formation and dissemination of scientific discourse took place in the process of the institutionalization of science, which was accompanied by the establishment of its structural and normative components, in particular specialized scientific terminology, research methods and methodology, an established scientific style of presenting results, norms of professional research behavior (scientific ethos), as well as the formation of a system of interaction between the institution of science and other social institutions. The evolution of scientific discourse from the author-centered, monological, narrative model that emerged in the early modern period to the object-centered, theoretical, non-narrative discourse of science in the classical period is traced. It has been shown that scientific discourse in modern society has become open, hybrid, and global. New forms of discourse have emerged, such as expert conclusions, citizen opinions, commentary, and the presentation of controversial information. The role of the science journalist as an intermediary between science and the general public is changing. Communication between science and society is increasingly moving toward disintermediation, i.e., it occurs without intermediaries in the digital spaces of social networks, scientific blogs, and websites, where Internet users can directly ask scientists and experts questions and express their opinions. In the digital environment, text communication is often combined with multimedia visual content and hyperlinks, and also provides the possibility of immediate feedback in the form of comments or simplified evaluative signals of approval or disapproval. As a result, new hybrid discursive practices are emerging that integrate expression of opinion, writing, reading, and commenting, which previously functioned as relatively autonomous genres. Conclusions. The positive effects of these processes include the democratization of scientific knowledge dissemination, the promotion of interdisciplinary research, and the involvement of society in science. However, there are risks of relativizing truth, lowering scientific standards, a crisis in the institution of expertise, and, as a result, the threat of the spread of pseudoscientific knowledge.

A base representation-linkage frame for historicmethodological analysis of fundamental chemical concepts

2026-05-13T18:30:51+03:00

This study presents a novel methodological framework for analyzing the historical evolution of fundamental chemical concepts (element, compound, reaction) by transforming the Triplet Model of concepts into the Triad model. It posits that any scientific concept can be analyzed as consisting of three interconnected subsystems: (1) the Base (the domain of referential entities), (2) the Representation (symbolic and linguistic systems), and (3) the Linkage (procedural and explanatory relationships). The last has components of three types: Empirical-Technical, Explanatory-Theoretical, and Institutional-Social. The aim is to in-depth analyze three historical case studies, while referencing recent developments in the philosophy of chemistry. Methods. The paper uses comparative methods of reading and interpreting authentic texts, combined with their deconstruction. The main result is putting forward an innovative and thought-provoking perspective on the historical case studies in question. Conclusions. The study is of a historical- scientific and theoretical-cognitive nature, and the results obtained can be applied in research on the history and philosophy of science, as well as in the teaching of natural science disciplines.

The algorithmic interpretant as a transformative factor in the communicative space of digital culture

2026-05-13T18:41:09+03:00

This article undertakes a philosophical inquiry into the transformation of communicative space in the context of digital culture. Introduction. In contemporary society, digital culture has become not only the dominant mode of interaction but also a decisive factor in reshaping the social, cultural and epistemological environment. Digital communication alters not merely the technical conditions of information transfer, but the very ontology of dialogue, representation and interpretation. Algorithmic mediation, the emergence of a «semiotics of surface» and the loss of context generate new challenges for the ethics of dialogue, the structure of publicity and the capacity for critical thought. The urgency of this topic stems both from the speed of technological change and from the philosophical depth of the problems it provokes. Aim of the study. The purpose of the article is to analyse the transformation of communicative space under digital culture through three interconnected levels: the communicative (the reconfiguration of dialogical ethics), the semiotic (the transformation of sign and representation) and the epistemological-ethical (critical thinking as a response to algorithmic mediation). The objective is to reveal the structural shifts that affect communication, representation and interpretation, and to formulate philosophical foundations for their systematic understanding. Methods. Methodologically, the study draws upon hermeneutical analysis, phenomenological reconstruction of communicative experience and critical reflection on the epistemological consequences of digital representation. This interdisciplinary framework allows the integration of classical concepts from philosophy of communication with contemporary debates in media theory and digital semiotics. Scientific novelty. The article proposes a conceptual model for the philosophical interpretation of digital communication as a transformation that is not only technical but ontological. For the first time, the synthesis of communication philosophy, the semiotics of the technical image and the ethics of critical thought is developed within a unified theoretical field. A key contribution is the introduction of the concept of the «algorithmic interpretant»: a mechanism by which algorithms replace the human function of interpretation through ranking, classification and filtering of signs. This idea provides a bridge between semiotics, critical theory and the study of digital infrastructures. Main results. The findings demonstrate that digital media reshape the ontological structure of communication: algorithms displace intentions, surfaces replace depth, and reaction substitutes for understanding. Within the semiotic dimension, the sign is no longer primarily a bearer of meaning but functions as a calculable element within algorithmic systems, undermining classical interpretative models. The philosophies of Vilém Flusser and Jean Baudrillard help to illuminate this transition from hermeneutics to simulation, from meaning to effect. In this context, critical thinking acquires the status of an ethical response to algorithmic logics that privilege visibility, immediacy and quantification over reflection and depth. Conclusions. The transformation of communicative space under digital culture demands a rethinking of the philosophical premises of dialogue, representation and interpretation. Digital media modify not only modes of interaction but the ontological nature of public communication itself, fragmenting contexts and redefining agency. Philosophy of communication in the digital age must therefore serve not only an analytic role but also an ethical one, offering tools for navigation within algorithmically mediated culture. Critical thinking, interpretation and contextualisation emerge as forms of ethical resistance to superficiality, reactivity and the loss of meaning. Future research may focus on exploring the epistemological limits of algorithmic communication and its implications for higher education, the public sphere and institutions of knowledge.

Generative artificial intelligence as a technological and sociocultural phenomenon; a philosophical and methodological analysis

2026-05-13T18:53:52+03:00

This article provides a comprehensive philosophical and methodological analysis of generative artificial intelligence (AI) as a technological, epistemological, and socio-cultural phenomenon. The study aims to identify the key features of generative AI development, assess its risks and limitations, and determine its impact on human cognitive abilities, educational practices, and social interaction. The research employs historical and system-structural analysis, as well as synthesis, comparison, and juxtaposition, to examine the evolution of generative AI and its contemporary applications. Despite substantial technical progress, many aspects of generative AI remain insufficiently explored, particularly its influence on education, human cognition, and societal relationships, highlighting the relevance of further interdisciplinary investigation. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the integrated approach that combines philosophical reflection, technical analysis, and socio-cultural assessment of the phenomenon. The main results include a detailed account of the historical formation of generative AI, the architectural evolution of generative models and the current directions of technological development. Particular attention is given to the technological foundations of generative AI, including deep learning mechanisms, large-scale training, model specialization, knowledge distillation, reinforcement learning from human feedback, and prompt engineering as a new form of human–machine interaction. The study examines key epistemological limitations of generative AI, ethical and legal challenges associated with opaque training processes, potential copyright violations, data privacy risks, manipulative uses of AI technologies, and their possible misuse in information warfare and cybercrime. The study explores the impact of generative AI on human cognition and social structures. The increasing human-like characteristics of AI systems further blurs the boundary between human and machine interaction, raising concerns about emotional attachment, the potential replacement of genuine social relationships, and the alteration of patterns of interpersonal communication. The article argues that despite its high computational complexity and functional efficiency, contemporary AI cannot be regarded as a full-fledged subject of cognition within philosophical and humanistic discourse. It lacks intentionality, self-awareness, volition, affective experience, and the autonomous capacity to generate meaning. Generative AI exhibits apparent intelligence, yet its reasoning is algorithmic and derivative, lacking genuine understanding. The study analyzes technical limitations of AI development and concludes that the long-term consequences of the widespread implementation of generative artificial intelligence remain uncertain; therefore, humanitarian reflection, legal regulation, and responsible governance of the further development of generative systems are necessary.

Originality of theoretical approaches of historical anthropology in the space of philosophical-historical concepts of the XXth – early XXIst century

2026-05-17T19:52:27+03:00

The purpose of this work is to identify and understand the theoretical features of the historical- anthropological paradigm of the modern philosophy of history in comparison with other philosophical-historical concepts, which contributes to understanding the essence and advantages of the study of causality, content and prospects of historical dynamics by historical anthropology. Research results. A significant reason for the formation of historical-anthropological concepts in the reflective field of the modern philosophy of history is the presence of theoretical gaps in the analysis by known directions of philosophical-historical thought of the causes, essence and alternatives of historical dynamics, the study of mainly its individual dimensions. To a much lesser extent, they comprehend the factors of the historical development of non-Western civilizations. The above-mentioned philosophical and historical theories are aimed at exploring patterns in the socio- cultural and economic-political processes of the past and do not essentially analyze their nonlinear, «random» components, which can be largely explained by the neglect of studies of both the conscious and unconscious components of the psychological sphere of historical dynamics. This work analyzes the conceptual elements organic to historical anthropology as a modern philosophy of history, such as systematicity, motivation, comprehensiveness, dialogicity, universalism, and multidisciplinary nature. The set of these theoretical elements determines the originality of historical-anthropological concepts in relation to other philosophical-historical paradigms. Among the latter, it is worth noting the theories of cultural-historical types of O. Spengler, «local civilizations» of A. J. Toynbee, «clash of civilizations» of S. Huntington, «axial time» of K. Jaspers, Marxism and neo-Marxism (I. Wallerstein), Protestant ethics of M. Weber. The study of the mental-cultural plane of virtually all civilizational communities by historical anthropology is of great importance. The philosophical- historical understanding of the indicated problem field turns out to be promising in the analysis of philosophical and socio-humanitarian cognition of causality and content of modern and promising socio-cultural dynamics.

The ethical horizon of the Technosphere: a holistic chain of responsibility of the cognitive agent in eastern European twentieth-century science fiction

2026-05-17T19:59:29+03:00

The aim of the article is to identify and conceptually analyze the ethical horizon of the technosphere within the context of twentieth-century Eastern European science fiction as an alternative to normative models of science and technology ethics. The article substantiates the thesis that within the Eastern European intellectual tradition, stable preconceptions of the responsibility of the cognitive agent have emerged – preconceptions that cannot be reduced to formalized ethical codes or algorithmic prescriptions but possess a holistic, anthropological, and existential-systemic character. The research methodology is based on the principles of interdisciplinarity, holism, and historical-philosophical analysis, with the use of science fiction as a form of thought experiment in the history of ideas concerning science and technology. An analytical reconstruction of models of responsibility represented in the works of Eastern European authors is applied, with particular attention to anti-normative, anthropoethical, existential-systemic, and cybernetic dimensions of interpreting the technosphere. The study shows that in twentieth-century Eastern European science fiction, the technosphere appears as a holistic environment of meanings, goals, and consequences of scientific and technical activity, within which the responsibility of the cognitive agent cannot be delegated to technical systems or removed through normative formalization. Invariant features of ethical thinking have been identified, related to the priority of goal setting over rules, awareness of the limits of control, and cceptance of the «cost of error» as an ethically significant factor. The scientific novelty of the article stems from the substantiation of the concept of the ethical horizon of the technosphere as a dynamic horizon of responsibility, as well as from the demonstration of the heuristic productivity of Eastern European science fiction for contemporary philosophy of science and technology. The obtained results are relevant for the further development of artificial intelligence ethics, engineering ethics, and philosophical-pedagogical approaches to the formation of responsibility in subjects of scientific and technological activity.

Acceptability of the use of systemic analysis in the investigation of biological and social phenomena

2026-05-17T20:06:35+03:00

The purpose of the work is an attempt to trace the limits of the use of systems analysis in modern science. Recently, a significant decrease in interest in works of a general methodological order has been recorded. Especially in such fields of knowledge as biology and sociology. The author made an attempt to trace the possibility and limits of the use of systems analysis. How relevant is it at this stage of the development of scientific knowledge? Are there, and what is the reason for the emergence of its possible alternatives. Existing research in the field of systems analysis is mainly of a general theoretical nature. Rarely touching on more narrowly focused research. This article is aimed at filling this gap. The methodology of this work is based on a generalization of the positions of leading specialists in the field of methodology of modern knowledge, On the basis of analysis and critical rethinking, assumptions are made. Results of the study. The author analyzes the state of affairs in modern methodology. To do this, he tried to answer the following questions: 1) what is the essence of the systems approach? 2) what is its place and role in the methodology of modern cognition? 3) the presence of possible alternatives to systems theory; 4) the limits of application of systems analysis to biological and social objects. The conclusions of the article are the following: 1) systems analysis is the isolation of elements with the subsequent actualization of the structure of their interaction in the course of responding to internal and external irritating factors; 2) systems analysis is a generally recognized and dominant methodological approach in modern cognition. At this stage (so far) its authority is undeniable; 3) there are a number of well- developed methodological alternatives (reductionism, synergetic, phenomenology and some others); 4) systems analysis is quite acceptable for the study of biological and social objects. However, with the assumption that at certain stages of their development, objects may be nonlinear. If the world is systemic in principle, then the systems approach is acceptable. However, first of all, we must answer ourselves to the global ontological and epistemological question: is the world outside us (conditional reality) rational and linear (it is possible to predict, extrapolate)? Is there an internal regularity «built into» it or is it irrational? If the world is linear, then the processes occurring in it are structurally and systematically organized. On the contrary, if the world is not linear and not rational, i.e. in principle not organized systematically, then we have the right to question the dominant role of the systemic method that studies the non-systemic world.