辩护生物学发现中的“巧合”——Meselson-Stahl实验的个案分析

To justify the Coincidences in biological discoveries:An analysis of the case of the Meselson-Stahl experiment

Meselson-Stahl实验作为"生物学中最漂亮的实验",实际上包含了两个巧合,如果没有它们,实验将支持另外的结论。但是,该实验的第一个巧合是可以辩护的,第二个巧合则是不可辩护的。对巧合的辩护涉及对巧合的说明与再说明,只有它们的关系是合理的时候,一个辩护才可能成功地做出。

The Meselson-Stahl experiment as the most beautiful one in biology, in fact, includes two coincidences. If it hasn＇t them, the experiment would have supported the alternative conclusions. But the first coincidence of it can be justified but the second can not. A justification to a coincidence is relevant to the explanation and re-explanation to it. Only when their relationship is reasonable, a justification will successfully be made.