Prematurity in Scientific Discovery: On Resistance and Neglect

Published by University of California Press 2002

Prematurity in Scientific Discovery

On Resistance and Neglect

Edited by: Ernest B. Hook

https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520927735

Overview
Contents

About this book

For centuries, observers have noted the many obstacles to intellectual change in science. In a much-discussed paper published in Scientific American in 1972, molecular biologist Gunther Stent proposed an explicit criterion for one kind of obstacle to scientific discovery. He denoted a claim or hypothesis as "premature" if its implications cannot be connected to canonical knowledge by a simple series of logical steps. Further, Stent suggested that it was appropriate for the scientific community to ignore such hypotheses so that it would not be overwhelmed by vast numbers of false leads. In this volume, eminent scientists, physicians, historians, social scientists, and philosophers respond to Stent's thesis.

Author / Editor information

Hook Ernest B. :

Ernest B. Hook is Professor at the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Figures and Tables Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
Preface Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	xvii
Contributors Publicly Available Download PDF	xix
Part One. Introduction
1. A Background to Prematurity and Resistance to “Discovery” Ernest B. Hook Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	3
2. Prematurity in Scientific Discovery Gunther S. Stent Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	22
Part Two. Observer and Participant Accounts
3. Prematurity, Nuclear Fission, and the Transuranium Actinide Elements Glenn T. Seaborg Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	37
4. Resistance to Change and New Ideas in Physics: A Personal Perspective Charles H. Townes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	46
5. The Timeliness of the Discoveries of the Three Modes of Gene Transfer in Bacteria Norton D. Zinder Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	59
6. Scotoma: Forgetting and Neglect in Science Oliver Sacks Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	70
Part Three. Historical Perspectives
Section A: Relatively Unproblematic Examples
7. Prematurity and Delay in the Prevention of Scurvy Kenneth J. Carpenter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	87
8. A Triptych to Serendip: Prematurity and Resistance to Discovery in the Earth Sciences William Glen Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	92
9. Theories of an Expanding Universe: Implications of Their Reception for the Concept of Scientific Prematurity Norriss S. Hetherington Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
10. Interdisciplinary Dissonance and Prematurity: Ida Noddack’s Suggestion of Nuclear Fission Ernest B. Hook Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	124
Section B: Disputable Cases
11. Michael Polanyi’s Theory of Surface Adsorption: How Premature? Mary Jo Nye Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	151
12. Prematurity and the Dynamics of Scientific Change Frederic L. Holmes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	164
13. Barbara McClintock’s Controlling Elements: Premature Discovery or Stillborn Theory? Nathaniel C. Comfort Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	175
14. The Work of Joseph Adams and Archibald Garrod: Possible Examples of Prematurity in Human Genetics Arno G. Motulsky Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	200
Part Four. Natural Selection and Evolution from the Perspective of Prematurity
15. The Prematurity of Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection Michael Ruse Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	213
16. Prematurity, Evolutionary Biology, and the Historical Sciences Michael T. Ghiselin Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	239
Part Five. Perspectives from the Vantage Point of the Social Sciences
17. The Prematurity of “Prematurity” in Political Science George Von der Muhll Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	253
18. The Impact and Fate of Gunther Stent’s Prematurity Thesis Lawrence H. Stern Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	260
19. Premature Discovery Is Failure of Intersection among Social Worlds Elihu M. Gerson Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	280
Part Six. Philosophical Perspectives
20. Fleck, Kuhn, and Stent: Loose Reflections on the Notion of Prematurity Ilana Löwy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	295
21. The Concept of Prematurity and the Philosophy of Science Martin Jones Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	306
Part Seven. Closing Considerations
22. Prematurity and Promise: Why Was Stent’s Notion of Prematurity Itself So Premature? David L. Hull Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	329
23. Reflections on Hull’s Remarks Gonzalo Munévar Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	342
24. Comments Gunther S. Stent Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	346
25. Extensions and Complexities: In Defense of Prematurity in Scientific Discovery Ernest B. Hook Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	354
Index

Language: English
Publisher: University of California Press
Pages
- Main content: 398

eBook

Published: October 2, 2002
ISBN: 9780520927735