da Cunha, Ivan F. (2025) Imagination and Fiction in Otto Neurath’s Scientific Utopianism. [Preprint]

Text Imagination Fiction Utopianism v.preprint.doc Download (2MB)

Abstract

This article examines the role of imagination and fiction in Otto Neurath’s work, particularly in his scientific utopianism. Using contemporary philosophical tools to understand different senses of the concept of imagination, this article argues that scientific utopianism proposes to employ scientific data and data analysis to construct imaginary social arrangements, and then to shift our attitude toward these constructions so that utopias can be compared as technological projects. This shift in attitude toward imaginary constructions is typical of utopia as a literary genre. Thus, Neurath’s methodology brings the social sciences closer to utopian fiction. Imagination also plays a role in Neurath’s ISOTYPE projects, in which imagistic resources become part of reasoning in visual arguments that allow visualizing new ways to organize knowledge. Learning to reason with images is important for overcoming the rigidity of traditional formulations. This article argues that the cognitive operations required by Neurath’s scientific utopianism contribute to showing that there is no matter of necessity in historically given or current social arrangements. More generally, in Neurath’s view, imaginative works contribute to the Enlightenment task of the Vienna Circle of clearing away the metaphysical remnants of outdated worldviews that pose obstacles to scientific and social progress.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID da Cunha, Ivan F. ivan.fc@ufsc.br 0000-0002-2060-2493
Additional Information:	Approved for publication in HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science. Tentatively assigned to the Fall 2025 (vol. 15, no. 2) issue.
Keywords:	Logical Empiricism; Vienna Circle; ISOTYPE; Philosophy of Social Science; Philosophy of Mind
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism
Depositing User:	Dr. Ivan F. da Cunha
Date Deposited:	11 May 2025 15:06
Last Modified:	11 May 2025 15:06
Item ID:	25266
Subjects:	General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism
Date:	May 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25266

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