Phlogiston revisited: an argument for scientific pluralism

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• Hasok Chang (University College London)
• Thursday 20 November 2008, 16:30-18:00
• Seminar Room 2, History and Philosophy of Science, Department of.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Lauren Kassell.

Through a re-examination of the Chemical Revolution, I advance an argument for pluralism in and about science. My assessment of the Chemical Revolution, made on the basis of a comprehensive list of epistemic values, returns the verdict that there was no compelling rational reason for 18th-century chemists to discard the phlogiston theory. I then examine the benefits that could have (or could still) come from retaining or reviving phlogiston. Finally I sketch some general arguments for scientific pluralism, drawing a comparison and contrast with relativism.

This talk is part of the Departmental Seminars in History and Philosophy of Science series.

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