Epistemic matrices : understanding the world

Epistemic matrices are a reduced and operative version of the “Temporalist Epistemic Metaparadigm” described by Philippe KREBS, researcher at the Alexandre KOYRÉ Center (EHESS). Epistemic matrices form a cognitive model intended to represent any thought oriented towards the search for understanding. They are based on the following principles: • A conjecture (not demonstrated) postulating that the search for understanding tends towards the mobilization of all the functions of apprehension of temporality by human cognition • A “topological” representation of the cognitive functions of apprehension of temporality using Venn diagrams • A model based on the principles of dialogic, weakened logic and meta-completeness described by Edgar Morin.1 The matrices propose to retain five operative epistemic postures: • The setting in reciprocal opposition (dialogical: logically complementary, concurrent and antagonistic between these terms) of the One (subjective time, “I”) and the multiple (conceptualized time, “Me”): the rationalist mode (realism) • The interiorized fusion (instant, “Self”) of the One and the multiple: the intuitive mode (idealism) • The exteriorization of the fusion of the One and the multiple (synchrony-diachrony, Self-I, Self-Me): the philosophical or artistic mode (phenomenology). Any epistemic thought can be seen as an instantiation of these matrices. The structure of the matrices shows that these three postures, or points of view, are linked by temporal-logical cognitive links. We must therefore add a fourth posture: • The way through matrices: the practice (constructivism, pragmatism) The matrices make it possible to found a pragmatics capable of embracing all the human sciences by true analogy between the instantiated matrices of the disciplines. The proposed “topologic” becomes the quasi-infra-linguistic language making possible all translations between branches of science. In doing so, the way through matrices makes it possible to reach a global perception of an epistemic field. We must therefore add a fifth posture: • Intelligence of the situation: the Metis (complexity) The practical implementation of the five postures consists in constructing the matrices using the temporalist movements of an epistemic field.