Abstract
In this chapter I examine the relation between philosophy and the history of science in light of Hegel’s conception of skepticism. In particular, I argue that the history of science can and has been used as a skeptical weapon against efforts to determine the constitutive features of science; that is, against the philosophical effort to demarcate science. I suggest that Hegel’s critique of skepticism can cast light on this use of the history of science by revealing its inconsistencies and by showing that there is logical room between dogmatism and skepticism. Finally, I present Imre Lakato’s account on the relation between philosophy and the history of science. I argue that, despite its problems, Lakatos” account partly incorporates, even if implicitly, the Hegelian lessons for avoiding both a-historical dogmatism and historicist skepticism.
