| Caption | a) Our knowledge is the final target of a sum of contributions from the disciplines of exact sciences andofhumanities. The tools are here simply indicated in terms of “common sense”. Redrawn according to a sketch shown by Gardin, this volume. b) Slight modification of , where it is specified the role of logics, mathematics, and statistics. A mutual interaction between common sense and the disciplines (of either branch) must provide mathematics etc. with some information, that is critically essential for defining the algorithms thatought to be applied for an optimum analysis of observations. This results into some kind of logical “circulation” by which the cognitive process iteratively improves itself. The final step is the output provided to“Knowledge” by either set of disciplines. c)The same as,where, however, the input from common sense into mathematics etc. is cut down. The afore-mentioned logical “circulation” is stopped. Mathematics provides both kinds of discipline with mathematically rigourous algorithms, that, however, are eventually intrinsically logically unsuited for the specific application of concern in every case. This is a very frequent case in the present geophysical literature, and it should be avoided, as it originates misunderstandings and a great waste of efforts and time. See text. |
