Scientific development

Guy Widdershoven

pp. 153-161

in: Wouter van Haaften, Michiel Korthals, Thomas Wren (eds), Philosophy of development, Berlin, Springer, 1997

Abstract

In this chapter we will discuss an example of collective development: the development of science as a social practice or, more specifically, conceptual development in the natural sciences. The development of science is a major issue in philosophy of science. In fact, the relation between different conceptualizations of reality in science is a central problem of contemporary philosophy of science. One of the aims of this chapter is to show how a philosophy of development might contribute to philosophy of science.