The Science Paradigm

The Science Paradigm

Maria Mediatrix Ratna Sari

Siswomihardjo (2002) explains that in the past science was synonymous with philosophy, where the limitations depend on the philosophical system it adopts. The development of philosophy itself has ushered in a configuration by showing how the tree of knowledge has flourished and branched off fertile. Each branch breaks away from the limits of its philosophy, develops independently and each follows its own methodology. Nowadays people feel more concerned with holding a classification (classification), so that the demarcation line between (branches) of science with each other becomes more attention. Science is placed on a benchmark in its phenomenal and structural dimensions.

In its phenomenal dimension, science appears in the following matters:

1. Society, namely an elite society which in its daily life is very focused on the principles of universalism, communalism, disinterestedness and skepticism that are directed and orderly.

2. Process, that is, by the activities of elite society through reflection, contemplation, imagination, observation, experimentation, comparison and so on, they never recognize the stopping point for searching and discovering scientific truth.

3. Products, namely the results of activities, in the form of propositions, theories and paradigms and the results of their application, both physical and non-physical.

In its structural dimensions, science is composed of the following components:

1. The target object (gegenstand) you want to know.

2. Gegenstand is continuously being questioned without recognizing stopping points.

3. The existence of reasons (motives), certain means and methods, the gegenstand was constantly being questioned.

4. The findings obtained step by step are rearranged into a unified system.

Aristotle argued that philosophy is all activities that can be accounted for in a sense, and divide it into poetic science (applied), practical science (in the normative sense such as ethics, politics) and theoretical science. The development of science and social science has reached its definitive form through the writings of Auguste Comte (1798-1857) in his main work Cours de Philosophie Positive which teaches the way of human thinking with philosophical content, namely to explain the true and the real must be concrete, exact, accurate and accurate give benefit. Francis Bacon states that knowledge is power is not just a myth, but has become an ethos, which has given rise to human patterns and attitudes that believe in the ability of rationality to master and predict the future, and with optimism, innovate creatively to open the secrets of nature.

Thomas Kuhn (2002) in his book entitled The Role of Paradigms in the Science Revolution says that revolution is the process of breaking down the old order into its roots and then replacing it with a completely new order. A scientific revolution arises if the old paradigm experiences a crisis so that it finally throws it aside and embraces a new paradigm.

Science is not the same as ordinary knowledge. The main purpose of science is to know deeply, what is the reason for this and why should it be so. Science was created by humans because it is driven by an endless curiosity of humans towards objects, thoughts or reason which doubt the witness of the senses, because the senses are considered often deceptive. So that it is said that science is knowledge that aims to achieve scientific truth about a particular object, which is obtained through an approach or way of looking (approach), methods (methods) and certain systems. Science has several properties, namely:

a. Philosophical nature, which questions the nature or essence of something (universal knowledge).

b. Causalistic nature, which always looks for the cause of its existence (general knowledge for a type of thing).

c. Descriptive-analytic properties, here try to explain the general properties possessed by an object.

d. Normative nature, which tries to understand the norm of an object so that the purpose and benefits of the object are drawn.

The truth of science (scientific truth or scientific truth) is clear knowledge of a material object that is achieved according to a certain perspective with an appropriate method and is supported by a relevant system, so that it can stand the test of both empirical and rational verification. The truth that is always framed in the context of humanity can bring the relationship between natural science, social sciences, humanities, and religion in a whole wholeness, because only with this connection can reality determine its position and function in reality itself (Soetriono & Hanafie).

The nature of science is a fundamental cause and universal truth that is implicitly inherent in itself. By understanding the philosophy of science, it means understanding the ins and outs of the most basic science, so that it can also be understood the perspective of science, the possibility of its development, the intertwining of one science with another, and its simplification and artificiality. Philosophy of science is understood as the science of science.

Reference:

Kunt, Thomas S. 2002. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Peran Paradigma dalam Revolusi Sains. (Tej. Tjun Surjaman). Bandung: PT. Remaja Rosdakarya.

Siswomihardjo, Koento Wibisono. 2002. Filsafat Ilmu: Sebagai Dasar Pengembangan Ilmu Pengetahuan. Yogyakarta: Liberty.

Soetriono, Hanafie SRDR. Filsafat Ilmu dan Metodologi Penelitian. Yogyakarta: Andi.