The social conditions of cumulation |
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Authors: | Stephan Fuchs Joseph H Spear |
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Institution: | (1) Dept. of Sociology, Unviersity of Virginia, 22903 Charlotteville, VA |
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Abstract: | Unlike philosophy, a sociological theory of cumulation cannot legislate the logical or metaphysical criteria which make cumulation
in science universally possible. Instead, sociology must explain under which structural conditions cumulation events are more
likely to occur than different varieties of change. Organizationally, cumulation events are rational myths, which tend to
surface on ritual and ceremonial frontstages directed at concerned and skeptical outsiders. Historically, cumulation presupposes
the retrospective closure and coherent periodization of episodes. Structurally, cumulation tends to occur when the intellectual
and design spaces of a network or specialty are highly focussed on narrow and isolated dimensions of performance. Technically,
much as in natural evolution, cumulative advances are more likely when experimental controls allow for restrictive tinkering
on machines and machine-like devices. Cumulation is local, not global; it occurs in the short, not the long, run, and prefers
non-turbulent environments. |
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Keywords: | |
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