Abstract
In the 1930’s, Mao Zedong in On Practice proposed a well-known model of the epistemological process: “practice — knowledge — practice.” Mao pointed out that man cannot immediately recognize objective laws; he can only revise his subjective knowledge through constant practice so as to approach closer to the truth. If we analyze the model of cognition proposed by Mao Zedong from the angle of science, we discover that the repeated cycle of practice — knowledge — practice is precisely equivalent to the well-known principle of negative feedback adjustment in cybernetics (Table 1).
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Notes
W. C. Dampier, History of Science and its Relationship to Philosophy and Religion, Commercial Press, 1979, p. 179.
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T. S. Kuhn, ‘Objectivity, value judgments and theory choice,’ The Essential Tension (Chinese translation). Fujian: People’s Publishing House, 1981.
Ibid.
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Guantao, J., Guofan, H. (1996). Information and Feedback in Epistemology. In: Dainian, F., Cohen, R.S. (eds) Chinese Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 179. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8717-4_7
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