Theme 1.1

Knowledge and disciplines

This theme rests on the fact that there is not one science, but rather many sciences. As such, research in this vein must examine the specificity of the various sciences. Our analysis is primarily focused on scientific concepts, their evolution and how their meaning changes. One must also question the very notion of scientific work in various disciplines, which leads us to analyze notions related to objectivity or "universal" postulates. Finally, the institutions which anchor knowledge also play a crucial role, which CIRST proposes to explore through research on the transformations of the scientific field or on ethical issues (such as deontology or conflicts of interest) that play an increasingly important role in managing scientific work. In order successfully complete such projects, several complementary methodological approaches – such as scientometric analysis, the genealogy of concepts, case studies and intellectual biographies – will be put to use.

Theme 1.2

The development of the social sciences and the humanities

This theme is one of the newer additions to our programme. Analyzing the development of the social sciences brings about new problems for researchers, due in part to the fact that the diffusion of knowledge does not operate in the same manner as in the natural sciences. For instance, books occupy a much more central role in production of knowledge in the social sciences. Nevertheless, many aspects common to all sciences can be detected, such as the importance of objectivity. Many projects under this heading focus on specific disciplines (economics, statistics, sociology and psychology), while others deal with the development of social science as a whole, or deal with wide-reaching institutional aspects, such as the history of peer review or of institutions devoted to statistical research. Once again, the research methods are complementary: the genealogy of important concepts such as game theory or evolution, scientometric analysis, or intellectual biographies of dominant figures such as Fernand Dumont or Émile Durkheim.

Theme 1.3

Comparisons between disciplines and conceptual migrations

This theme is a meeting point for researchers whose work focuses on the constitution of knowledge, because it implies comparisons between analyses of different disciplines in order to better grasp the many ways that knowledge is produced. The comparisons often examine concepts that are produced in a given discipline, but that acquired a different meaning elsewhere. Game theory, evolution, natural selection, epigenesis and homotopia are examples which serve to illustrate this phenomenon. Other notions, such as objectivity or universal postulates, are more oriented towards the development of knowledge, and are used in different disciplines, but with several distinct definitions. The bulk of the research will consist in comparing analyses of individual disciplines in order to draw out the continuities and the conceptual shifts. This theme will also help us to understand how interdisciplinarity arises.