Philosophical
analysis in
software engineering
It is generally
accepted that "Nothing is more practical than a good theory". However, in
software engineering is not a good theory. Furthermore, in
software engineering have any theory. The
reason for this is that until now existed among the computing community
positivist spirit - the neglect of theoretical studies of the general plan.
Currently,
the understanding has changed - the theory is needed. Attempts are being made to
develop a theory. But
productive theory has not yet offered. In such cases it
is necessary to take another look at the problem. It is necessary to
go beyond software engineering. It is necessary to change the
view on computer, on the program, on the software industry. If
we go beyond software engineering, then where do we go?
Several
years ago in the group "comp.software-eng" I suggested the direction
where to go to take another look at the problem.
Unfortunately, at
that moment I did not know that the content of the former Soviet educational
program in philosophy and the western one are different. Naturally,
because I was not understood, and to my proposal did not pay attention.
The
Soviet program much attention was paid to the concepts of dialectics and
interaction concepts couples. We are talking about
such concepts: essence - phenomenon; form
- content; object - the image of
the object; target -
means etc.
Regardless
of the educational program researchers are aware of the interaction concepts
ensembles.
Couples
and ensembles philosophical concepts used in the process of philosophical
analysis. When
science (any science) accumulate a critical mass of unsolved problems, with the
help of philosophical analysis of these problems can be solved.
To
succeed in the analysis of the scientific process, it is necessary to
understand the phenomenon of concrete science and have some experience of the
philosophical analysis. Philosophical
analysis is extremely useful, but rarely used.
Scientific
problems can be solved by the use of philosophical analysis. New
theories can be created through the use of philosophical analysis
The
main reason that the philosophical analysis is not systematically applied - it
is the same positivist spirit. As
a consequence, the neglect of the philosophical analysis of the causes that
researchers do not have experience using it.
The
study of
phenomena of software engineering using pairs and
ensembles philosophical concepts -
this is another way of looking at the problems of
software engineering.
Philosophical analysis has been applied
in the development of the theory of
decomposition schemes.
