Социология, интердисциплинарност и интернационализация на научното познание – преосмисляне на границите
Sociology, Interdisciplinarity and Internationalization of Scientific Knowledge – Rethinking the Boundaries

Summary/Abstract: The paper explores the epistemological consequences that interdisciplinarity and internationalization of knowledge in social sciences have for contemporary research practice in sociology. The general theme of the boundaries of scientific knowledge is discussed through the prism of two main questions: a) what is going on within and with sociological knowledge in the context of internationalization and interdisciplinarity?; and, b) what should be the focus of the epistemological vigilance of sociologists? Drawing on the analysis of key elements in the research policy of the European Union and tracing their implementation in the social and economic projects financed within the 4th and the 5th Framework Programmes, the paper argues that contemporary social sciences will not be able to carry out their disciplinary reconstruction if they do not place boundaries on the political administration of the interdisciplinary and international dialogue between them. If the research policy of the European Union, constantly objectified in numerous requirements and criteria, is not subjected to critical reflection by the social sciences, the epistemological chances diminish for scientific knowledge to develop as self-reflective and relatively autonomous in its cognitive premises, while the epistemological risks increase that EU policies may develop in contradiction with the requirement of being knowledge-based.

• Details
• Contents