Logic, methodology and philosophy of science VIII proceedings of the eighth international congress of logic, methodology and philosophy of science, and philosophy of science proceedings) ( PDFDrive ) 31

12 P FEDOSEYEV science in the latter quarter of the 20th century For instance, a trend toward a synthesis of specialisation and universalisation of scientific work has been well pronounced in modern biology and the technical sciences Genetic engineering, the study of the biospheric processes and the elaboration and design of modern technologies are characterised not only by a synthesis of theoretical knowledge and the methods of various disciplines, but also by a fusion of theoretical and experimental investigations, which requires from specialists a combination of formerly separate forms of research activity New theoretical knowledge obtained in studying an object is often transformed during the process of research into an outline of an experiment and even a design of further development The integration processes make us view the traditional problems of the philosophy and methodology of science in a new way For a long time methodological problems have been investigated predominantly with an orientation to the requirements of fundamental sciences Today, the range of methodological investigations has become much broader Along with the methodology of fundamental sciences, whose development poses for philosophers and methodologists quite a few new tasks which are connected with the revolution taking place in these sciences, specific problems arise in the sphere of applied sciences and scientific and technical development The latter problems may acquire primary importance for the philosophy and methodology of modern science, if one takes into account the significance of interdisciplinary research, as well as the modern synthesis of scientific achievements with questions of design Current engineering activity has posed a number of major methodological problems related to our world view First of all there is the interpretation of the essence and significance of technological activity Natural science deals with objects created in a “natural way”, that is in the course of the development of nature itself Technical systems are products of man’s purposeful constructive activity, of his hands and intelligence The perfection of the technical means which we have created is the criterion of the depth of our penetration into the mysteries of nature Science is the tomorrow of production Branches of natural science, as they develop, become branches of production It is in this way that atomic engineering, radiotechnical and electronic industries, laser technique, microbiological technology, and the production of synthetic materials have appeared This interaction between natural science, technology and production is a characteristic feature of the current scientific and technological revolution