Scientific Progress and Interdisciplinarity: a Philosophical-Epistemological Approach

It is shown that, in general, consideration of this problem from the point of view of interdisciplinary interactions and the formation of interdisciplinary new knowledge has heuristic potential. In particular, the philosophical and epistemological "measurement" of scientific progress becomes relevant at this time.

The discussions confirm that determining an adequate criterion for scientific progress is one of the main problems when considering the problem in the selected context. Various and different proposals and theses appear. This difference in positions is related to the issue's complexity.

Considering the diversity of opinions noted above, the article expresses a unique approach to the problem. In particular, the thesis has been put forward that the philosophical understanding of the concept of "now" can play a significant role in determining the criterion of scientific progress from an interdisciplinary position. The novelty of "now" was studied in synthesising cognitive and practical aspects.

It is shown that in the cognitive aspect if each subsequent stage of the formation of interdisciplinary knowledge can simplify the cognitive situation compared to the previous stage (creating a more precise picture), we can talk about scientific progress.

At the same time, if the practical application of new interdisciplinary knowledge is assessed as innovation, this means scientific progress.

In conclusion, the following thesis is formulated: the criterion of scientific progress can be determined based on a synthesis of the purely cognitive novelty of interdisciplinary knowledge and an assessment of its application in the sociocultural environment as innovative.

An interdisciplinary methodology was used to achieve the scientific goal.

In particular, such methodological principles as nonlinearity, intersubjectivity, formation and synergy were applied.

Complexity simplification and synergistic synthesis were used as a method.

Scientific novelty is associated with the thesis that the synthesis of aspects 1) "now" of scientific progress "translates the cognitive situation from complexity to simplicity as a purely cognitive criterion" and 2) "is innovative as a result of its practical application to society as new interdisciplinary knowledge "can be a criterion of scientific progress at the present stage in general.