Prematurity in scientific discovery : on resistance and neglect / edited by Ernest B. Hook.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Hook, Ernest B., 1936-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Discoveries in science--Congresses.

Discoveries in science.

Science--Philosophy--Congresses.

Science.

Science--Philosophy.

Stent, Gunther S. (Gunther Siegmund), 1924-2008.

Stent, Gunther S.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

xx, 378 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, [2002]

Summary:

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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0520231066

OCLC:

47364052