Technology and human sciences: a dialogue to be constructed or a common tread to be rediscovered?

Abstract

In this contribution we begin to discuss the thesis that an analysis of the similarities and differences of typical methodologies of human sciences, technology and hard sciences show some unforeseen but strong similarities between human sciences and technologies. In this context fuzzy sets ideas provide useful tools which help to render the analysis more quantitative but without loosing the connection with a purely descriptive analysis. These kinds of considerations would have been hardly conceivable in the setting of XIX Century conception of science. It is the development of Information sciences that has allowed these problems to emerge. In this paper we shall then briefly outline the general context in which the questions must be asked. The present paper, then, should be considered a (necessary but only a) prolegomenon to a future more specific analysis, the main (in our view) steps of which will be listed in the final Section.