Chang, Hasok
(2007)
Beyond Case-Studies: History As Philosophy.
In: UNSPECIFIED.
Abstract
What can we conclude from a mere handful of case studies? The field of HPS has witnessed too many hasty philosophical generalizations based on a small number of conveniently chosen case studies. One might even speculate that dissatisfaction with such methodological shoddiness contributed decisively to a widespread disillusionment with the whole HPS enterprise. Without specifying clear mechanisms for history-philosophy interaction, we are condemned to either making unwarranted generalizations from history, or writing entirely "local" histories with no bearing on an overall understanding of the scientific process. I propose a move away from the habit of viewing historical cases as an inductive evidence-base for general philosophical theses. The relation between historical and philosophical studies should not be seen as one between the particular and the general, but as a relation between the concrete and the abstract. An abstract framework is necessary for telling any concrete story at all. In this paper I explore how doing concrete history can help our abstract philosophizing. In the absence of ready-made philosophical concepts appropriate for understanding a given historical episode, the historian is compelled to craft new abstract philosophical concepts. Therefore, history-writing can be a very effective method of philosophical discovery. I will illustrate these claims through a discussion of two investigations in HPS from my own recent and current work: (1) temperature measurement and epistemic iteration; (2)constitution and laboratory practices in the Chemical Revolution. (This will also raise, and solve, a problem of reflexivity: how can we use case studies to show how to go beyond case studies?)
| Item Type: |
Conference or Workshop Item
(UNSPECIFIED)
|
| Creators: |
| Creators | Email | ORCID  |
|---|
| Chang, Hasok | | |
|
| Keywords: |
HPS, temperature, iteration, Chemical Revolution |
| Depositing User: |
Hasok Chang
|
| Date Deposited: |
06 Mar 2008 |
| Last Modified: |
07 Oct 2010 15:16 |
| Item ID: |
3926 |
| Date: |
2007 |
| URI: |
https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3926 |
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