Science As a Process: An Evolutionary Account of the Social and Conceptual Development of Science (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations Series)

Hull, David L.

ISBN 10: 0226360504 / ISBN 13: 9780226360508

Published by Univ of Chicago Pr, 1988

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Science As a Process: An Evolutionary Account of the Social and Conceptual Development of Science (Science and Its Conceptual Foundations Series)
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr
• Publication Date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0226360504
• ISBN 13: 9780226360508
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Hull applies an evolutionary model of selection processes to scientists and their work, showing that competition and cooperation among scientists result in the selective retention of new scientific ideas. As a model he offers a detailed history of theoretical struggles during the last two decades in systematic zoology, a field with which he's intimately acquainted. Hull shows that bias, personal commitments, and self-interest are the norm in science. He argues that scientific knowledge grows not in spite of these seeming flaws but because of them. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

Review

Applies evolutionary models to the cultural and conceptual change of intellectual communities. Essential reading for anyone interested in how ideas evolve, and how best to describe these processes rigorously.