Towards the notion of Research Program Lattice for interdisciplinary research

Abstract

In this paper I put forward the notion of research program lattice, an extension of Imre Lakatos's methodology of research programs, in order to account for scientific progress in interdisciplinary research contexts. My starting point is twofold: the conception of science as a problem-solving activity as well as full recognition of (methodological) pluralism. From this perspective, scientific progress is viewed as a dynamic evolution of several research programs running in parallel, instead of a mere replacement of isolated theories. A research program lattice is characterized by the existence of a leading idea—analogous to the Lakatosian hard core—, a shared problem domain, a set of relevant questions, compatible methodological assumptions, and a common language enabling communication between diverse approaches. This model is particularly suitable for questions such as: What is consciousness? What is an artificial intelligence? where several research programs coming from disciplines as diverse as neurology, philosophy, computer science, and literature, contribute with a partial, irreducible, yet a complementary perspective for understanding a complex problem. I conclude that the philosophy of science can play a reconstructive and a normative role for the advancement of interdisciplinary research.