Toward a hermeneutic theory of the history of the natural sciences

Joseph Kockelmans

pp. 237-264

in: Lee Hardy, Lester Embree (eds), Phenomenology of natural science, Berlin, Springer, 1992

Abstract

In this essay a hermeneutic theory of the history of the natural sciences is developed in outline. First the views of Kuhn, Laicatos, and Hübner are presented and discussed critically. On the basis of the insights so gained and the general principles of hermeneutic phenomenology a hermeneutic conception of the historicity of the history of the natural sciences is then unfolded. This is done concretely by means of an explanation of the thematization that is characteristic for the history of the natural sciences.