The Role of Scientific Discussion in Evolution of the Socio-Humanitarian Knowledge (on the example of polemic of V. Y. Propp and С Levi-Strauss)

Abstract

The article analyzes the scientific discussion as a factor of the development of socio-humanitarian significance and its role in the creation of new ideas. Using as an example the polemic of V.Y. Propp and C. Levi-Strauss, the author demonstrates importance of the polemic for the development of the theoretical foundations of structuralism. Doing this analysis the sociological interpretation of key provisions of structuralism is done through appeal to ideas of F. Tennis, G. Simmel, T. Parsons and other sociologists, through the concepts which also deal with the problems of form and content, structure and function, and so forth. The discussion of V.Y. Propp and C. Levi-Strauss is considered as a model of scientific dialogue, the specificity of which is manifested in its publicity (due to the publication of polemical articles) and openness (due to ability to participate in the discussion of other scientists). Stresses that the analysis of polemical articles not only helps to better understand the different versions of a particular scientific field (in this case - structuralism), but also identifies possible causes of a false interpretation of theoretical concepts, misunderstanding and creates ways to solve this problem through argumentation, thereby contributing to the formation of culture of dialogue.