知识的测度及其经济学意义

知识经济对西方经济学的研究方法和研究对象形成了革命性冲击,知识的直接测度是不可能的,它作为变量不符合数学分析方法的要求,不可能运用数学方法把知识纳入生产函数中,知识直接测度的不可能性意味着知识不是和资本与劳动力相独立的变量。知识经济要求对西方经济学的研究方法和研究对象实行根本性转变,进行全新的研究和探索。     

法官判决的知识基础

通过两个有关法官判决的司法文本的对比阅读,力求揭示“常识”这一知识形态自身内部结构因素的流变以及逻辑基础和知识谱系的转化,进而动态地展现其与司法知识之间的微观内在勾连;并在此基础上,努力在社会转型、权力分工以及司法知识形态的流变三者之间建立起一定意义的内在关联,进而揭示出当下中国司法知识专业化建设所可能面临的问题,从而指出解决问题的可能的司法模式或司法改革道路。     

认知法律知识化的三个维度

一个全新的社会,需要一门新的法律科学.法律知识化巳成为知识社会背景下中国法学转型的时代要求.尽管法律知识化的主张是多元的,但从其整体看,它承袭了后现代法学的衣钵,坚持以下核心观点:即将法律知识化概括为法律哲学化、法律科学化和法律平民化三个实体逻辑贯通的维度.其中,哲学化的使命是将法学从一个纯粹的科学问题还原为一个价值问题;科学化增强了法学理想图景的科学性与可行性;平民化则打破了法学的神秘性,扩大了公民的法律参与.经由此三个维度,法律知识化之科学含义方能得以丰满和立体化凸现.     

通过程序弥合知识的鸿沟——论科学证据对刑事审判的挑战及应对

由于裁判者所具备的知识基本属于常识范畴,而对科学证据的审判断则需要专业技术知识,这正是科学证据能够不断对刑事审判提出挑战的内在原因。两大法系应对挑战的共同途径即是以保障裁判的正当性为基本目标,通过程序的完善来弥合知识的鸿沟。我国刑事诉讼程序中存在的诸多弊端,已严重影响到全国大人常委会《关于司法鉴定管理问题的决定》的贯彻和执行。因此,应以保障刑事审判的正当性为目标,改革相关程序,完善我国的刑事鉴定制度。     

法理学“指导”型知识生产机制及其困难——从法理学教材出发

从知识生产机制的整体视角来看,中国法理学教材还没有走出苏式法理学的框架。苏式法理学教材的"指导"型知识生产机制基于法理学与部门法学具有不同的研究对象这一基本原理,认为法理学是部门法学的指导性学科,并由此决定了"指导"型知识生产机制的运行机制;运行机制包含正面向度和反面向度两个方面,正面向度指的是法理学针对部门法学生产"指导"型知识,反面向度指的是部门法学帮助法理学生产"指导"型知识,法律关系理论和法律行为理论分别典型地对应着这两个方面。然而,对上述理论的检讨表明,"指导"型知识生产机制在运行机制层面是无效的;进一步地,该机制在基本原理层面及其理论基础层面也是错误的,因而应当被抛弃。     

概括故意研究

概括故意是指行为人对于认识的具体内容并不明确，但明知自己的行为会发生危害社会的结果，而希望或者放任结果发生的心理态度。根据行为人认识的具体内容的不同，概括故意可以分为对行为认识不明确的概括故意、对行为对象认识不明确的概括故意以及对危害结果认识不明确的概括故意三种。对于概括故意的犯罪，应该考察行为人的客观行为及其结果，在概括故意的范围内按照主客观统一的原则予以认定。     

法律发展与法律知识化

法律发展首先必须面对合法化与价值诉求问题，而这一切又无不与作为基础的法律主体的知识立场密切相关。如何谋求“法律知识化”、话语合法化以及法律主体的价值立场的有效运作，是法律文明、有效发展的必要途径，也是法律发展话语摒弃规则主义弊端制约而建构自我所不可回避的挑战。从西方国家的经验看，现代法治的确立与以理性化为核心的法律知识化过程密不可分，法律知识化由知识对法律的关系提升、扩展为一种法律观，再由一种法律观落实为一种价值观、方法论，并由此引导法律主体追求和建设一种新的法律文明。更为重要的是，“法律知识化”使法治成为近代法律发展的本质性，把知识化原则导入法律发展领域，从而实现了法律发展的革命性变革。     

Knowledge free and ‘unfree’: Epistemic tensions in plant knowledge at the Cape in the 17th and 18 th centuries1

ABSTRACT

This article utilises the same epistemic objects, particular indigenous medicinal plants of the Cape region, to explore the gamut of epistemologies in contested, dynamic tension in the early Cape Colony: That of the frontiersman, the Khoikhoi, the Sonqua or Sankwe, and the slave. Drawing on a transdisciplinary set of literatures, the article puts Africana studies, the study of indigenous knowledge systems, and social studies of science and technology in wider conversation with each other, and argues for the adoption of an epistemic openness, methodologies which ‘braid’ seemingly separate strands of social history and differing knowledge practices, and cross-border collaboration among scholars of African and African diasporic knowledges. The findings and interpretation suggest new ways to view the ‘multiplexity’ of early indigenous southern African botanical, therapeutic and ecological knowledges, as well as the necessity for rethinking both the construction of colonial sciences and contemporary concerns about indigenous knowledge, biosciences and their 21^st century interaction.     

The role of mathematics and scientific thought in Africa: A Renaissance perspective

ABSTRACT

This article examines the centrality of mathematics and scientific thought in the sociocultural, human and intellectual development of a sampling of African societies. Evidence is presented which refutes the theory that Africans had no ‘intelligible sense of numeracy’ before contact with the West, and demonstrates that the propagation of this myth was part of the larger colonial project to marginalise and ‘other-ise’ African knowledge systems. Tracing Africa's early contributions to mathematics and scientific thought forces a shift from the standard Western-based approach to pedagogy in this field. It renders a subject that is perceived and presented as alien to African culture, more accessible to African learners. And ultimately, acknowledging the long history of mathematics and scientific thought in Africa is a step in foregrounding African epistemologies in knowledge production, human and social development and towards the realisation of the African Renaissance.     

African research and development surveys: Highlights from the South African success story

ABSTRACT

Science and technology have a major role to play in current and future developments on the African continent as a whole. With the vast array of developmental challenges, current thinking needs to be expanded, so that technologies provide increased and enhanced solutions, such that African scientists produce an African response to the very many shared challenges affecting Africa – both as individual nations and as regards African people collectively. Key to developing an integrated science and technology network, within and across nations, is firstly to understand the extent of research and development (R&D) currently undertaken within individual territories and on the continent as a whole. In light of this, the article examines the value and importance of national surveys of research and experimental development undertaken in Africa. Within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), many member states now have dedicated departments overseeing state science and technology (S&T) development initiatives. South Africa has the most developed science and technology system on the continent. In recent years, other SADC countries like Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia have initiated projects to measure R&D activities within their territories. Despite this, further North, R&D measurement on the continent is uncommon, both as a result and as a cause of underdevelopment.

The article explores the limited data from selected African R&D surveys in an attempt to understand measurement issues that exist and to detail the value and importance of mapping S&T systems and their applications to developmental issues in Africa. In countries like Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, where S&T systems exist, effective means of measurement need to be established, so that the power of these systems can be harnessed, shared and exploited to benefit the African people. To this end, the African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (ASTII) initiative was set up at a meeting in Addis Ababa with the aim of delivering a survey of these countries’ R&D output and potential. This is eagerly awaited by the African S&T community.

At the forefront of African R&D measurement is the South African national R&D survey, administered by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Being an established survey, the South African team is often called upon by other African nations to support the setting up of surveys. The HSRC also trains visiting African scientists in the delivery of accurate and reliable R&D survey data. This article will, for the first time, present detailed results of the most recent South African national R&D survey (2008/2009), together with a trend analysis of historic South African R&D surveys.