Wetenschapshistorische etiketten en de gevaren van populaire analyses

Abstract

Labels in the history of science and the dangers of polar analyses This special issue, Kanttekeningen bij erkende etiketten. Natuurwetenschap en geneeskunde in de 17e en 18e eeuw (Comments on accredited labels Science and medicine in the 17th and 18th century), deals with the problem of using labels in the history of science and medicine. In particular, the contributions relate to labels concerning scientific schools and traditions, and to the dangers of 'polar analyses'. In a strictly polar analysis it is assumed, (1) that two and no more than two schools or traditions do matter, (2) that the parties are involved in debates and conflicts, or, at least, have opposite opinions, and (3) that every scientist in the period concerned belongs to one of the two groups. Though a polar analysis can appropriately describe an actual historical debate, it can easily cross its original boundaries. This 'polar imperialism' is operative in different dimensions, e.g. time, space, content and context. This issue presents case-studies illustrating the use and misuse of polar analyses.