What is it about?
The pragmatic theory of a group describes all the knowledge they use to learn about their phenomenon, but it's hard to pin down since it's always evolving. Our study proposes a method for synthesizing pragmatic theories and presents a case study on ecological succession to demonstrate it in action.
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Why is it important?
The pragmatic view of theory structure is ideal for capturing how biology generates knowledge in an era of abundant information. This approach acknowledges that science is a social endeavor and depends on swift exchange of knowledge across society. Our proposed method creates synthetic snapshots of this elusive entity, the pragmatic theory, allowing us to identify model trends, knowledge gaps, subcommunities, and guide future directions. In short, the method yields a theoretical map for more efficient knowledge generation.
Perspectives
I'm thrilled about this article as it demonstrates that the pragmatic view is not just better suited for describing biology's theoretical development, but also for embracing the social aspect of science. It's incredibly rewarding to know that the method proposed can uncover social biases and contribute to creating a more inclusive and democratic scientific environment. As an academic, I'm passionate about using my work to make a positive impact on the world, and I feel that this article is a big step in that direction.
Bruno Travassos-Britto
Universidade de Sao Paulo Campus da Capital
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A pragmatic approach for producing theoretical syntheses in ecology, PLoS ONE, December 2021, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261173.
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