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Negotiating history: Contingency, canonicity, and case studies.
Agnes Bolinska1, Joseph D Martin1
1Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, UK.
Philosophers can use historical case studies as evidence by ensuring they are
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Science
- History of Science
Background:
- Philosophical research often uses historical case studies.
- Objections include methodological biases and intrinsic unsuitability for evidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address objections to using historical case studies in philosophy.
- To establish criteria for "canonical" historical cases.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing methodological and metaphysical objections to historical case studies.
- Defining "canonicity" based on causal accounts of historical processes.
- Evaluating case studies using examples from the history of science.
Main Results:
- Methodological objections are not unique to historical case studies.
- Metaphysical objections can be overcome by establishing canonicity.
- Canonical cases provide complete causal accounts relevant to philosophical aims.
Conclusions:
- Historical case studies can be valid philosophical evidence.
- Establishing canonicity is key to overcoming objections.
- The framework is demonstrated with examples from Eddington and Watson/Crick.
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