philosophical elements in thomas kuhn's historiography of science
;Paul Hoyningen-Huene
central european journal of biology2012Vol. 27pp. 281-292
151
hoyningen-huene2012theoriaphilosophical
Abstract
To begin, the so-called ‘selectivity of historical judgment’ is discussed. According to it, writing history requires a comparative criterion of historical relevance. This criterion contains philosophical elements. In Kuhn’s case, the criterion directs historical research and presentation away from Whiggish historiography by postulating a hermeneutic reading of historical sources. This postulate implies some sort of internalism, some sort of rationality of scientific development, and historical realism. To conclude, some consequences of Kuhn’s anti-Whiggism are discussed.