Constructivism and Its Discontents?: the Philosophical Origin of "Science Wars"

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Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2016, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (5) : 164-170.

Western Literary Theory and Criticism

Constructivism and Its Discontents?: the Philosophical Origin of "Science Wars"

Feng Qing

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Abstract

Contemporary humanists tend to consider scientific truths as artificially constructed opinions. Once the causes for the "Science Wars" between postmodern humanists and scientists are revealed, one will realize that the real target of anti-scientism is the modern scientific approach based on Cartesianism. It is because of the acceptation of this approach that modern Western sciences have a visible character of pragmatism and that what is to be pursued in sciences are specific and casual certainties instead of absolute truths. "The linguistic turn", as the foundation of modern constructivism and the beginning of literary and cultural theories, is actually a critical response to this modern scientific culture. However, the latter is also a resource of the former. Modern sciences and critical theories are therefore proved to be derived from the Enlightenment philosophy.

Key words

Constructivism / science wars / Enlightenment philosophy / the linguistic turn / critical theory

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Feng Qing. Constructivism and Its Discontents?: the Philosophical Origin of "Science Wars"[J]. Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art, 2016, 36(5): 164-170

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