Objetividade e matemática na epistemologia de Gaston Bachelard

Abstract

The concept of objectivity is central in the epistemology of Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962). The problem that the research intends to solve is the definition of objectivity in the Bachelardian philosophy, what implies that it must be showed the relation between objectivity and mathematics. From the reading and analysis of the Bachelard`s epistemological works that approaches the objectivity issue, it`s demonstrated that the philosopher uses two different concepts of objectivity. The first is the objectivity as recognizing and removing the epistemological obstacles presented as subjective images into the scientific practice. The second concept is the objectivity as process of rectification of scientific knowledge. An example of objectification is presented: the concept of substance, in the naïve realist sense, disappears in the physical sciences of 20th century, and emerges the complex concept of the non substantial, mathematic atom. From this example, it`s shown that, for Bachelard, the process of knowledge objectification is synchronic to the process of object mathematization, and the reason for this relation between mathematization and objectification is explained.