PhilSci Archive

The Role a Concept Plays in Science - The Case of Homology

Brigandt, Ingo (2004) The Role a Concept Plays in Science - The Case of Homology. [Preprint]

This is the latest version of this item.

[img]
Preview
PDF
role.pdf

Download (183kB)

Abstract

The present paper gives a philosophical analysis of the conceptual variation in the homology concept. It is argued that different homology concepts are used in evolutionary and comparative biology, in evolutionary developmental biology, and in molecular biology. The study uses conceptual role semantics, focusing on the inferences and explanations supported by concepts, as a heuristic tool to explain conceptual change. The differences between homology concepts are due to the fact that these concepts play different theoretical roles for different biological fields. The specific theoretical needs and explanatory interests of different research approaches lead to different homology concepts.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Brigandt, Ingo
Keywords: concepts, conceptual change, homology
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User: Ingo Brigandt
Date Deposited: 03 Nov 2004
Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 15:13
Item ID: 2049
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
General Issues > Theory Change
Date: June 2004
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/2049

Available Versions of this Item

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item