Doing Integrated History And Philosophy Of Science: A Case Study Of The Origin Of Genetics

By (author) Shan, Yafeng
Short description/annotation:
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.
Description:

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.

Table of contents:

1. Introduction.- Part I. History.- 2. Mendel’s Pisum Revisited.- 3. De Vries’ Mendelism Reassessed.- 4. Weldon’s Choice Reconsidered.- Part II. Integrated HPS.- 5. Exemplarising the Origin of Genetics.- 6. A Functional Account of the Progress in Early Genetics.- 7. The Problem of the Long Neglect Revisited: An Exemplar-based Explanation.- Part III. Philosophy.- 8. A New Mode of Conceptual Continuity.- 9. The Gap Problem in Hypothetico-Deductivism.- 10. Promisingness in Theory Choice.

Review quote:
“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)
Biographical note:

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 Science, Synthese, and Philosophy Compass.

Primary cover copy:

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 progres