Epistemologia społeczna wobec kulturowego uczenia się

Abstract

The paper investigates epistemic conception of culture in the light of which culture is understood as a form of knowledge (system of beliefs). Such approach is considered to be a variant of social epistemology where social practices in general are analysed in terms of knowledge-creating activities and investigated as to their epistemic properties. It also explains how societies and organizations generate, acquire, apply, improve, maintain and disseminate knowledge. These knowledge activities make up the complex process of “cultural learning” which relies on a change of collective memory leading to improved social behaviour (routines) resulting from more adequate and efficient body of collective beliefs. Two modes of cultural learning are discussed, empirical and theoretical, the former covering direct refinement of practical knowledge and the latter introducing radical innovations in theoretical principles which guide professional (e.g. institutionalized or scientific) inquiry.