PhilSci Archive

History and Philosophy of Science: A Phylogenetic Approach

Lennox, James G. (2001) History and Philosophy of Science: A Phylogenetic Approach. [Preprint]

[img] Microsoft Word (.doc)
Download (247Kb)

    Abstract

    Kuhn closed the Introduction to The Structure of Scientific Revolutions with what was clearly intended as a rhetorical question: How could history of science fail to be a source of phenomena to which theories about knowledge may legitimately be asked to apply? (Kuhn 1970, 9) This paper argues that there is a more fruitful way of conceiving the relationship between a historical and philosophical study of science, which is dubbed the 'phylogenetic' approach. I sketch an example of this approach, and take a first pass at an abstract characterization of the method.

    Export/Citation:EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
    Social Networking:
    Share |
    Item Type: Preprint
    Keywords: HPS, fitness, natural selection, phylogenetic
    Subjects: General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
    Conferences and Volumes: [2001] Pitt-London Workshop in the Philosophy of Biology and Neuroscience (London, September 2001)
    Depositing User: James G. Lennox
    Date Deposited: 21 Aug 2001
    Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 11:10
    Item ID: 378
    Public Domain: No
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/378

    Actions (login required)

    		 View Item

    Document Downloads