A Naturalistic Approach to Historiography of Science: the Case Study of Darwin

Document Type : Research/Original/Reqular Article

Author

Department of Philosophy of science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The findings of cognitive science increasingly show that analogies and metaphors play an essential role in human cognition. Scientists are no exception to this rule, and so analogies and metaphors play a fundamental role in science. Although the philosophers of science have been studying the role of analogies and metaphors in science for decades, historians of science have ignored this role- with a few exceptions in the last few years. The claim of this paper is putting emphasis on this role opens up a new look in historiography of science. After referring to the work of one of the present historians who uses this method of historiography as an example, a small part of young Darwin's work will be reconstructed. Then, on this basis, it will be defended that understanding of the past is possible only with the contemporary look, and the fear of committing Whigish historiography is only a barrier to understanding the past. In the end, it is defended that this kind of historiography can help the scientist in offering new hypotheses in current scientific debates.

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References

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