Análisis de los conceptos de progreso, desarrollo y ciencia, y sus implicaciones en la educación superior del Ecuador.

Abstract

Conceptual analysis makes it possible to delimit both the entities that fall under the domain of a concept and to explore the relationships established with other concepts. In this work we proceed to analyze the concepts Progress, Development and Science in the field of social sciences, economic theories, and philosophy of science. Documentary analysis and semi-structured interview are used for data collection. Critical evaluation is used to process the interviews. The results indicate that the concept of progress has fallen into disuse while the concept of development, although still in use, is being deposed. The analysis focuses on the comparison of both concepts and highlights their ontological, epistemological, and ethical assumptions, as well as their relationship with science. It is concluded that the concept of development has been aligned with the notion of economic growth, subsuming in its early stages the modern project of progress. A critical view of these concepts is thus provided, contributing to the understanding of their evolution and relevance in contemporary discourse.