The development of theorems in logic is generally thought to be a
solitary and purely cerebral activity, and therefore unobservable by
sociologists. In Weaving Self-Evidence, French sociologist Claude
Rosental challenges this notion by tracing the history of one well-known
recent example in the field of artificial intelligence--a theorem on the
foundations of fuzzy logic. Rosental's analyses disclose the inherently
social nature of the process by which propositions in logic are
produced, disseminated, and established as truths.
Rosental describes the different phases of the emergence of the theorem
on fuzzy logic, from its earliest drafts through its publication and
diffusion, discussion and reformulation, and eventual acceptance by the
scientific community. Through observations made at major universities
and scholarly conferences, and in electronic forums, he looks at the
ways students are trained in symbolic manipulations and formal languages
and examines how researchers work, interact, and debate emerging new
ideas. By carefully analyzing the concrete mechanisms that lead to the
collective development and corroboration of proofs, Rosental shows how a
logical discovery and its recognition within the scholarly community are
by no means the product of any one individual working in isolation, but
rather a social process that can be observed and studied.
Weaving Self-Evidence will interest students and researchers in
sociology and the history and philosophy of science and technology, and
anyone curious about how scientists work.
