Scientific knowledge in big data context

reflections from Popper's epistemology

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36311/1940-1640.2020.v14n4.10936

Keywords:

Big data, Science, Epistemology, Karl Popper

Abstract

It presents the big data context and its relationship with scientific knowledge from the following question: Does the extraction of information from large volumes of data represent an epistemological change for science in general? The general objective is to reflect on the epistemological implications of the big data context based on the propositions of epistemologist Karl Popper. Specifically, the objectives are: a) to discuss the theoretical implications of science in the field of epistemology; b) to talk about the concepts of what was conventionally called "big data"; c) analyze the possible impacts of the big data context on scientific knowledge. Methodologically, it is an exploratory and descriptive study of a theoretical character to assist critical reflection about the big data phenomenon and its consequences for the scientific practice of any area of ??knowledge. As a result, a critical analysis is presented about a phenomenon little studied in the epistemological aspect. It is concluded that the big data context has revolutionized the decision-making processes in companies, but it is not possible to say that the same revolution occurs in the epistemological aspect.

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Author Biographies

  • Eugênio Monteiro da Silva Júnior, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
       
  • Cezar Karpinski, Federal University of Santa Catarina
    Associate Professor I at the Federal University of Santa Catarina where he works in the
    undergraduate courses in Archivology, Library Science and Information Science, and in the
    Postgraduate course in Information Science. Bachelor in Philosophy, Master and Doctor in
    History. Performance and research in the area of ??Information Science, at the interfaces:
    Information and Memory; Historical and epistemological studies of Information Science;
    History of Archives and Libraries; Cultural, natural and documentary heritage; Preventive
    Conservation. Information Science and Interdisciplinarity; Information and Knowledge
    Management. In the area of ??History, he specializes in History and Environment,
    Iguaçu River (19th and 20th centuries), Environmental Heritage, Iguazu Falls and
    National Park, Hydroelectric Plants and Oral History.
  • Moisés Lima Dutra, Federal University of Santa Catarina

    Professor at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Department of Information Science. PhD in Computing from the University of Lyon 1, France (2009). Master in Electrical Engineering, Subarea Automation and Systems (2005) and Bachelor in Computing (1998) by the Federal University of Santa Catarina. His current lines of research are related to Applied Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Semantic Web, Linked Data) and Data Science (Text Mining, Big Data, IoT). It is linked to the ITI-RG (Intelligence, Technology and Information - Research Group) research group.

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Published

2020-12-17

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 4 - out-dez (2020)

Section

Papers

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Copyright (c) 2020 Eugênio Monteiro da Silva Júnior, Cezar Karpinski, Moisés Lima Dutra

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How to Cite

“Scientific Knowledge in Big Data Context: Reflections from Popper’s Epistemology”. Brazilian Journal of Information Science: Research Trends, vol. 14, no. 4 - out-dez, Dec. 2020, p. e020017, https://doi.org/10.36311/1940-1640.2020.v14n4.10936.