Theorie en praktijk van Swammerdams wetenschappelijke methode in zijn entomologie

Abstract

Theory and practice of Swammerdam's scientific method in his entomology Swammerdam manifested himself in his entomological writings as a sharp critic of rationalism and bookishness and as a staunch supporter of empiricism. He stressed the importance of careful and unbiassed observation and regarded phenomenological "laws" as the ultimate aim of scientific research. Swammerdam pointed out that his entomological studies were in conformity with his methodological prescriptions. The relation between theory and practice is analysed in the second part of this paper. It appears that Swammerdam was indeed a consistent empiricist. The reproach that he renounced his empiricism with his ideas on the pre-existence of germs is unfounded. Here too, Swammerdam upholds the primacy of experience and maintains his cautious empirical attitude.