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Doing Integrated History and Philosophy of Science: A Case Study of the Origin of Genetics

Authors:

  • Revisits the history of early genetics
  • Develops the exemplar-based approach to the development of science
  • Introduces new accounts of conceptual change, evidential practice, and theory choice

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science (BSPS, volume 320)

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
  2. Introduction

    • Yafeng Shan
    Pages 1-11
  3. Part I

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13
    2. Mendel’s Pisum Revisited

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 15-35
    3. De Vries’ Mendelism Reassessed

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 37-51
    4. Weldon’s Choice Reconsidered

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 53-69
  4. Part II

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 71-71
    2. Exemplarising the Origin of Genetics

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 73-99
  5. Part III

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 135-135
    2. A New Mode of Conceptual Continuity

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 137-157
    3. The Gap Problem in Hypothetico-Deductivism

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 159-175
    4. Promisingness in Theory Choice

      • Yafeng Shan
      Pages 177-192
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 193-197

About this book

This book offers an integrated historical and philosophical examination of the origin of genetics. The author contends that an integrated HPS analysis helps us to have a better understanding of the history of genetics, and sheds light on some general issues in the philosophy of science. This book consists of three parts. It begins with historical problems, revisiting the significance of the work of Mendel, de Vries, and Weldon. Then it turns to integrated HPS problems, developing an exemplar-based analysis of the development and the progress in early genetics. Finally, it discusses philosophical problems: conceptual change, evidence, and theory choice. Part I lays out a new historiography, serving as a basis for the discussions in part II and part III. Part II introduces a new integrated HPS method to analyse and interpret the historiography in Part I and to re-examine the philosophical issues in Part III. Part III develops new philosophical accounts which will in turn make a better sense of the history of scientific practice more generally. This book provides a practical defence of integrated HPS: the best way to defend integrated HPS is to do it.



Reviews

“This is an interesting book. … the volume offers new insights about the history of early genetics, and shows clearly the value of doing integrated history and philosophy of science.” (Kostas Kampourakis, The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 98 (4), December, 2023)

“As a fellow-traveler in integrated HPS, I agree wholeheartedly with Shan that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And the numerous interesting, nuanced insights that his approach allows us to bring to the incredibly fruitful period of the development of early genetics makes the work done here worthy of the attention of any scholar interested either in this particular case study or in the prospects more generally for integrated HPS work, both within and beyond the life sciences.” (Charles H. Pence, Metascience, April 12, 2022)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of Philosophy, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK

    Yafeng Shan

About the author

Yafeng Shan is research associate in philosophy at the University of Kent. He has previously held teaching and research positions at Tel Aviv University and Durham University. He completed his PhD at University College London. His research interest is primarily in philosophy of science, epistemology, and metaphysics. He has published research articles in Philosophy of ScienceSynthese, and Philosophy Compass.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access