Post by wraggy on May 27, 2011 8:05:16 GMT
Dos and don’ts in history of science
Rebekah Higgitt has a post on 6 Dos and Don'ts in History of Science. Although it seems her post is aimed at those who teach the subject, I think that a discussion of this type would be handy for those of us who are reading History of Science books but have no formal education in the subject.
On the subject of Dos and Don'ts. What advice would those of you who are trained in the Historical Method give to someone (like me), who is interested in the subject but lacks academic training?
James, maybe you could write a post on Quodlibeta on Reading History for Dummies.
This post is an attempt to put down an idea that has been loosely turning around in my mind for some time,..... It could be a personal checklist when speaking to people outside the discipline, whether in exhibitions, lectures aimed at the general public or in a media interview. On the spot, especially when directly questioned by someone with little or no knowledge of the topic under discussion, it can be all too easy to either fall into jargon or – in order to avoid that sin - make use of modern terms or concepts that make a nonsense of the history. This is a list of things that I think are, in such contexts, worth insisting on, even at the expense(?) of taking up a little more time, making people think a little harder and losing the neatness of a nice story.
Rebekah lists 6 Dos/Don'ts at present and may expand on them later. I have only posted the headings here. You will have to go to her blog to read the full text.
1) Do not ever call anyone a scientist who would not have recognised the term.
2) Do not allow assumptions about conflict between science and religion or ‘rival’ theories.
3) Do encourage people to take stories of genius and eureka moments with a pinch of salt.
4) Do not allow passage of time to be taken as an explanation for progress in science.
5) Do not expect that progress to be straightforward.
6) Do respect the boundaries.
whewellsghost.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/dos-and-donts-in-history-of-science/
Rebekah Higgitt has a post on 6 Dos and Don'ts in History of Science. Although it seems her post is aimed at those who teach the subject, I think that a discussion of this type would be handy for those of us who are reading History of Science books but have no formal education in the subject.
On the subject of Dos and Don'ts. What advice would those of you who are trained in the Historical Method give to someone (like me), who is interested in the subject but lacks academic training?
James, maybe you could write a post on Quodlibeta on Reading History for Dummies.
This post is an attempt to put down an idea that has been loosely turning around in my mind for some time,..... It could be a personal checklist when speaking to people outside the discipline, whether in exhibitions, lectures aimed at the general public or in a media interview. On the spot, especially when directly questioned by someone with little or no knowledge of the topic under discussion, it can be all too easy to either fall into jargon or – in order to avoid that sin - make use of modern terms or concepts that make a nonsense of the history. This is a list of things that I think are, in such contexts, worth insisting on, even at the expense(?) of taking up a little more time, making people think a little harder and losing the neatness of a nice story.
Rebekah lists 6 Dos/Don'ts at present and may expand on them later. I have only posted the headings here. You will have to go to her blog to read the full text.
1) Do not ever call anyone a scientist who would not have recognised the term.
2) Do not allow assumptions about conflict between science and religion or ‘rival’ theories.
3) Do encourage people to take stories of genius and eureka moments with a pinch of salt.
4) Do not allow passage of time to be taken as an explanation for progress in science.
5) Do not expect that progress to be straightforward.
6) Do respect the boundaries.
whewellsghost.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/dos-and-donts-in-history-of-science/