Resistance to the Systematic Study of Multiple Discoveries in Science

1963 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Merton
Keyword(s):  
History Of Science ◽  
Systematic Study ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Influential Paper ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Sociological Thought

The pages of the history of science record thousands of instances of similar discoveries having been made by scientists working independently of one another. Sometimes the discoveries are simultaneous or almost so; sometimes a scientist will make anew a discovery which, unknown to him, somebody else had made years before. Such occurrences suggest that discoveries become virtually inevitable when prerequisite kinds of knowledge and tools accumulate in man's cultural store and when the attention of an appreciable number of investigators becomes focussed on a problem, by emerging social needs, by developments internal to the science, or by both. Since at least 1917, when the anthropologist A. L. Kroeber published his influential paper dealing in part with the subject (I) and especially since 1922, when the sociologists William F. Ogburn and Dorothy S. Thomas compiled a list of some 150 cases of multiple independent discoveries and inventions (2), this hypothesis has become firmly established in sociological thought.

William Whewell, Galileo, and reconceptualizing the history of science and religion

2011 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 343-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
History Of Science ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
William Whewell

This paper advocates a reconceptualization of the history of science and religion. It is an approach to the subject that would aid research by historians of science as well as their message to others, both academic and non-academic. The approach is perfectly illustrated by the life and ideas of William Whewell and Galileo.

scholarly journals EPISTEMOLOGIA E LINGUAGEM: CONJECTURA DE UM “MODELO DE CORRESPONDÊNCIA” E ENSAIO-TESTE EM UM EXPERIMENTO PRELIMINAR / Epistemology and Language: Conjecture of a “Correspondence Model” and Test Essay in a Preliminary Experiment

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Dante Reis Jr. ◽  
Eriwelton Soares ◽  
Lucas Moura ◽  
Ricardo Bezerra
Keyword(s):  
History Of Science ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Analysis Program ◽  
Linguistic Identity ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject

Movidos pelo interesse em propor um programa de análise que seja potencialmente replicável para os casos em que se busca uma “identidade linguística” das escolas de pensamento, desenhamos um protótipo sistemático e o aplicamos em um ensaio genérico – compreendendo três matizes. Este experimento investigativo constituiu o escopo de um projeto de Iniciação Científica; e, dada a temática envolvida, se enquadra no âmbito dos estudos de Epistemologia e História da Ciência (tendo, obviamente, o “caso Geografia” como alvo da análise). Neste artigo, narramos os procedimentos executados e avaliamos a virtual fecundidade do programa para ensaios análogos.AbstractMoved by the interest in offering an analysis program potentially replicable for the cases in which it seeks a linguistic identity of schools of thought, we designed a systematic prototype and applied in a generic test – comprising three “hues”. This investigative experiment was the purpose of a Scientific Initiation project; and, given the subject involved, falls within the scope of the studies of Epistemology and History of Science (“Geography case” as target of the analysis, of course). In this article, we relate the procedures performed and evaluate the potential fertility of the program for similar tests.Keywords:History of Geographical Thought; Linguistic Analysis; Vocabulary

The Reverend John Wallis, F. R. S. (1616-1703)

1960 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
John Wallis ◽  
The University ◽  
Time And Energy ◽  
Country Town

John Wallis (1616-1703), one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society, was a scholar of amazing versatility. Though born into an age of intellectual giants he rapidly acquired a commanding place even among that brilliant group which has made the seventeenth century illustrious in the history of science. More than once he blazed the trail which led to some epoch-making discovery. When Newton modestly declared ‘If I have seen further it is by standing on ye sholders of Giants’, he no doubt had the name of John WalHs well before his mind. Walks was born on 23 November 1616, at Ashford in East Kent, a country town of which his father was rector. On the death of his father, Wallis was sent to school at Ashford. Later he was moved to Tenter den, where he came under the care of Mr James Movat, and even in his earliest years he distinguished himself by that singular aptitude for learning which was to remain with him till the closing years of his life. At the age of fourteen he went to Felsted, and here he acquired a marked proficiency not only in Latin and Greek, but also in Hebrew. From Felsted he entered Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and although his interest in mathematics dates from this period, he gave no evidence of unusual talent for the subject; this, he complains was because there was no one in the University to direct his studies. Divinity was his dominant interest. In 1640 he was ordained, and four years later he was appointed, together with Adoniram Byfield, Secretary to the Assembly of Divines at Westminster. Possibly on account of his ecclesiastical duties, which absorbed much of his time and energy, his early promise as a mathematician still remained unfulfilled.

scholarly journals Nieznane polonika kanadyjskie – William John Rose i jego archiwalna spuścizna

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 315-326
Author(s):  
Tomasz Pudłocki
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Anglo Saxon ◽  
University Of British Columbia ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The University ◽  
The Rose

Autor omawia archiwalną spuściznę Williama Johna Rose’a (1885–1968), kanadyjskiego slawisty, historyka i socjologa, pokazując jej przydatność do badań nad historią nauki oraz relacjami uczonych polskich z uczonymi z krajów anglosaskich. Ze względu na oddalenie Vancouver od Polski kolekcja zgromadzona w Archiwum Uniwersytetu Kolumbii Brytyjskiej nie była do tej pory przedmiotem zainteresowań polskich uczonych, warta jest jednak zauważenia ze względu na swoje bogactwo i różnorodność tematyczną. Unknown Canadian Polonica – William John Rose and his archival legacy Abstract The author discusses the archival legacy of William John Rose (1885–1968), a Canadian Slavist, historian and sociologist, showing its usefulness in researching the history of science and the relations between Polish scholars and scientists from Anglo-Saxon countries. Due to the distance of Vancouver from Poland, the Rose Fond collected in the Archives of the University of British Columbia (Canada) has not been the subject of interest of Polish scholars so far, but it is worth noting due to its richness and thematic diversity.

scholarly journals Early Days of the History of Science in Uruguay

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Laura Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Initial Approximation ◽  
La Plata ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Significant Figures ◽  
Do So

In this article, I provide an initial approximation to the establishment and the early stages of the history of science in Uruguay. To do so, I focus on the first courses on the subject dictated in Uruguay and the first figures—both local and foreign—that took part in the process. With this objective, first, I examine the introduction of the discipline into the Río de la Plata—and into Argentina more particularly—via the arrival of European historians. I then analyze the role played by some of the first most significant figures in the history of science in Uruguay in the second quarter of the twentieth century. Finally, I explore and briefly describe the first courses dictated at the Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias (School of Humanities and Sciences) of the Universidad de la República (University of the Republic) during the mid-twentieth century.

scholarly journals Theoretical Generalizations in Epidemiology: from History to the Present

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 5-16
Author(s):  
N. I. Briko
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Modern Period ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject

The article presents an analysis of theoretical generalizations in epidemiologists at all stages of its development and development. It is shown that the components that make up the content of the subject of epidemiology have evolved in the understanding of their essence, in particular, causality, the mechanism of development and epidemiological manifestations. Representations and terminology about the content and essence of the subject have changed: from the epidemic, to the epidemic process, and, finally, to the population level of organization of pathology and human health (morbidity and public health). The greatest scientific discussions and intellectual struggle of opinions passed through the whole history of science. The concepts that prevailed in the ancient world, the Middle Ages, in the 20th century and theoretical generalizations in epidemiology of the modern period are presented. Problems were revealed and directions for further research in the field of theory and practice of epidemiology were suggested.

The Study of Controversies and the Theory and History of Science

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Dascal
Keyword(s):  
History Of Science ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Usual Practice ◽  
Limited Space ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Way Of Thinking

These introductory remarks are unorthodox in many respects. The deviance from usual practice is justified by the extreme importance I attach to the subject matter of this special issue. I want to convey to the reader a sense of why I think controversies, particularly in science, are so crucial, and to propose a different way of thinking about them. This mandates, in the limited space available, a compact presentation, omitting supporting arguments and necessary elaboration — for which the reader is referred to the bibliography.

A Priori in the Philosophy of Science

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 60-74
Author(s):  
Tatiana D. Sokolova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Technical Difficulty ◽  
Scientific Thought ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Model Approach

The article is devoted to the analysis of research approaches and attitudes to the study of the a priori in the philosophy of science. In the first part, I outline the basic premises of this study: (a) scientific knowledge as the highest manifestation of rationality; (b) the normative nature of scientific knowledge. In the second part, I turn to the difference in the subject of philosophical research on the history of science – the history of science as a “history of facts” vs the history of science as a history of scientific thought. The third part discusses the main theoretical and technical difficulty associated with changing the subject of research – the possibility of a transition from historical fact to “scientific thought at the time of its birth” (in Helene Metzger terminology). The forth part is devoted to the analysis of the “model approach” (Arianna Betti, Hein van den Berg) in philosophy as a possible way to overcome this difficulty and includes both theoretical and technical aspects of the future direction of research. In conclusion, consequences are drawn about the possibility of using the “model approach” for reconstruction a priori in the history of science as “constitutive elements of scientific knowledge” (David Stump).

Notes on Chinese Alchemy

1930 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Waley
Keyword(s):  
Cultural History ◽  
History Of Science ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Walter Scott

Alchemy, on the rare occasions when it has been made the subject of reasonable inquiry, has usually been studied as part of what one may call the pre-history of science. But if, to use a favourite phrase, we are to see in alchemy merely “the cradle of chemistry”, are we not likely, whatever its initial charm, to lose patience with an infancy protracted through some fifteen centuries?It is certain in any case that another aspect of alchemy—its interest as a branch of cultural history—has hitherto been strangely neglected. Mr. Walter Scott, for example, omits alchemistic writings from his great edition of the Hermetica on the odd ground that they are merely “masses of rubbish”. But if texts are to be dismissed as rubbish because they contain beliefs that we cannot share, I see no reason why the religious and philosophical parts of the Hermetica (and with them many books which to-day enjoy a far wider popularity) should continue to claim attention.

ALAIN BRIEUX, DEALER AND SCHOLAR IN PARIS: HIS ARCHIVE ON SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

Nuncius ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 703-709
Author(s):  
WILLEM F. J. MRZER BRUYNS
Keyword(s):  
History Of Science ◽  
Scientific Instruments ◽  
Book Shop ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject

Abstracttitle SUMMARY /title Alain Brieux (1922-1985) ran an antiquarian book shop in the rue Jacob, in Paris. He dealt in books on the history of science and medicine, and in historical scientific instruments. He was a self-educated scholar who published on the subject of his trade, and became an expert on Islamic astrolabes. In 1972 Brieux was involved in the discovery of the identity of an Englishman who made forgeries of historic instruments. The purpose of this article is to draw the attention of scholars and institutions to the archives of the Brieux businnes. These were accumulated over a period of twenty-five years, and still belong to the business which is now run by his widow.

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