This paper introduces the idea that if theories of history generate different taxonomies of history they too are incommensurable. I argue this is unavoidable for Kuhn given what he says about incommensurability and 1 ...This paper introduces the idea that if theories of history generate different taxonomies of history they too are incommensurable. I argue this is unavoidable for Kuhn given what he says about incommensurability and 1 investigate the consequences in relation to reflexivity, justification, and paradox for Kuhn＇s account of science. I want to do this on two levels, firstly looking at different possibilities for characterising individual paradigms. I will look at some examples from ancient and early modem astronomy as here it is clearest that paradigms can be characterised in different ways and that this has important consequences. I will argue in particular that Kuhn＇s characterisation of the paradigm for astronomy which emerges from antiquity （geocentrism） is favourable to his general account of the history of science, but that there is a very plausible and extremely damaging alternative. I argue that these differing characterisations generate differing, incommensurable taxonomies of the history of astronomy, with attendant ＂local holism,＂ untranslatability of key terms and issues of theory choice. If so, Kuhn then has problems with generating an adequate decision making protocol for choosing between the two paradigm characterisations. That is problematic in itself, but I also argue this problem is systemic and affects the evidence needed for Kuhn to justify his general account of the history of science. I also want to investigate the implications of differing taxonomies of the history of science at a more abstract level. Kuhn＇s general theory of the history of science generates a taxonomy of the history of science, as do other theories such as those of Popper and of gradualism. If so, the incommensurability involved here, again with attendant ＂local holism,＂ untranslatability of key terms and issues of theory choice, leads to issues of paradox and justification for Kuhn＇s general account of the history of science. With this broader understanding of taxonomic issues, some important Kuhn statements about scientific theories become self-referential, again generating problems of paradox and justification.展开更多
Father Joseph-Adrien Lelarge de Lignac was born in Poitiers （France） in the year 1697. He died in Paris in 1762. In 1731, he was ordained priest and he became an oratorian the following year. His Letters to an Ameri...Father Joseph-Adrien Lelarge de Lignac was born in Poitiers （France） in the year 1697. He died in Paris in 1762. In 1731, he was ordained priest and he became an oratorian the following year. His Letters to an American is an attempt to refute Buffon and Condillac; this book was prepared in collaboration with Rraumur （J. Roger, P. Charbonnat）. Here, we present some elements of the correspondence between Lignac and Rraumur which show a scientific dialogue about 1736-1748 and we try to bring some foundations of the thought of Lignac to light. Between empiricism and ontology, Lignac stands up for scientific questions being subject to literal reading of the Bible. But Lignac is also the first one to perceive a way of thinking in Buffon Natural History （T. Hoquet）. According to him, the thought of Buffon is a deviation in an order of knowledge, because Natural History would especially be based on observation and experiment. So in this paper, we emphasize two original sources in the thought of Father de Lignac： Malebranche philosophy and his collaboration with Reaumur.展开更多
文摘This paper introduces the idea that if theories of history generate different taxonomies of history they too are incommensurable. I argue this is unavoidable for Kuhn given what he says about incommensurability and 1 investigate the consequences in relation to reflexivity, justification, and paradox for Kuhn＇s account of science. I want to do this on two levels, firstly looking at different possibilities for characterising individual paradigms. I will look at some examples from ancient and early modem astronomy as here it is clearest that paradigms can be characterised in different ways and that this has important consequences. I will argue in particular that Kuhn＇s characterisation of the paradigm for astronomy which emerges from antiquity （geocentrism） is favourable to his general account of the history of science, but that there is a very plausible and extremely damaging alternative. I argue that these differing characterisations generate differing, incommensurable taxonomies of the history of astronomy, with attendant ＂local holism,＂ untranslatability of key terms and issues of theory choice. If so, Kuhn then has problems with generating an adequate decision making protocol for choosing between the two paradigm characterisations. That is problematic in itself, but I also argue this problem is systemic and affects the evidence needed for Kuhn to justify his general account of the history of science. I also want to investigate the implications of differing taxonomies of the history of science at a more abstract level. Kuhn＇s general theory of the history of science generates a taxonomy of the history of science, as do other theories such as those of Popper and of gradualism. If so, the incommensurability involved here, again with attendant ＂local holism,＂ untranslatability of key terms and issues of theory choice, leads to issues of paradox and justification for Kuhn＇s general account of the history of science. With this broader understanding of taxonomic issues, some important Kuhn statements about scientific theories become self-referential, again generating problems of paradox and justification.
文摘Father Joseph-Adrien Lelarge de Lignac was born in Poitiers （France） in the year 1697. He died in Paris in 1762. In 1731, he was ordained priest and he became an oratorian the following year. His Letters to an American is an attempt to refute Buffon and Condillac; this book was prepared in collaboration with Rraumur （J. Roger, P. Charbonnat）. Here, we present some elements of the correspondence between Lignac and Rraumur which show a scientific dialogue about 1736-1748 and we try to bring some foundations of the thought of Lignac to light. Between empiricism and ontology, Lignac stands up for scientific questions being subject to literal reading of the Bible. But Lignac is also the first one to perceive a way of thinking in Buffon Natural History （T. Hoquet）. According to him, the thought of Buffon is a deviation in an order of knowledge, because Natural History would especially be based on observation and experiment. So in this paper, we emphasize two original sources in the thought of Father de Lignac： Malebranche philosophy and his collaboration with Reaumur.
