The Fundamental Unit of Analysis as a Methodological Category for Studying Scientific Theory

Abstract

The article substantiates the need to introduce a new methodological category – the Fundamental Unit of Anal-ysis (FUA) – for studying the principles of organizing the conceptual apparatus of scientific theories. It is shown that existing categories of philosophy and methodology of science do not allow for a systematic description of the internal organization of the system of fundamental concepts within a specific theory. The FUA is defined as a methodological category through which the organizing function in the structure of the conceptual apparatus is investigated, and the category (or system of categories) that performs the organizing function for interrelated fundamental concepts within a unified theoretical system is determined. Criteria for identifying the FUA have been developed, and three possible outcomes of the analysis have been proposed: a single FUA, a distributed organizing function, and a systemic nature of organization. The method has been tested on examples from cell theory, the theory of natural selection, classical mechanics, and activity theory, demonstrating its applicability to theories across various disciplines. The introduction of the FUA provides a basis for the comparative analysis of theories, for the typology of principles governing the conceptual framework organization, and for studying the dynamics of scientific knowledge.