Accumulation of Knowledge in Para-Scientific Areas. The Case of Analytic Philosophy

TL;DR

This paper investigates how knowledge accumulates in Analytic Philosophy using citation analysis and Kuhn's theory, revealing a post-WWII accumulation with ongoing fragmentation and limited consensus.

Contribution

It introduces a novel temporal citation context analysis in para-scientific fields, specifically applying it to Analytic Philosophy to understand knowledge accumulation.

Findings

Knowledge in Analytic Philosophy grew after WWII.

Accumulation occurred without increased consensus.

Fragmentation into sub-fields increased over time.

Abstract

This study analyzes how the accumulation of knowledge takes place in para-scientific areas, focusing on the case of Analytic Philosophy. The theoretical framework chosen for the analysis is Kuhn's theory of normal science. The methodology employed is qualitative citation context analysis. A sample of 60 papers published in leading Analytic Philosophy journals between 1950 and 2009 is analyzed, and a specific classsificatory scheme is developed to classify citations according to their epistemological function. Compared to previous studies of citation context, this is the first paper that includes the temporal dimension into the analysis of citation context, in order to gain insights into the process of knowledge accumulation. Interestingly, the results show that Analytic Philosophy started accumulating after Second World War, but in a peculiar way. The accumulation was not matched by a corresponding rising consensus. This can be explained by the hypothesis that AP underwent a process of fragmentation in sub-fields during the second half of the century.