“Field” Philosophy and the Problem of Interactions Between Philosophers and Varied Social Group

This study describes the basic approaches to the field philosophy developed by the American philosophers Robert Frodeman and Adam Briggle, and evaluates the role of Nancy Tuana's “ethico-epistemological analysis” in interdisciplinary projects. The author explores these concepts in the context of a debate about the possibilities of applying philosophical knowledge in real day-to-day activities. The paper evaluates Frodeman's call for going be-yond the limits of internal philosophical communications and actively interacting with scientists, engineers, decision-makers and other social groups on the issues of science and technology policy, the environment, global changes, etc. The practical experience of Briggle, regarding par-ticipation in the “field” project on public expertise of hydraulic fracturing in Denton, Texas, is also described. The idea of Tuana about integrated ethico-epistemological studies is considered as conceptually close and in many ways clarifying the “field” philosophy. The final part of the study is a critical assessment and discussion of the above approach