A case study in the teaching of immunology: written arguments and the counter-inductive method of Paul Feyerabend

Daniel Manzoni De Almeida,Marsilvio Pereira Gonçalves,Silvia Luzia Frateschi Trivelato,Paula Seixas Mello,Patricia Marzin-Janvier,Jean Rodrigues Siqueira

doi:10.3895/rbect.v12n3.6691

Abstract

In this study, initiated during immunology classes in a graduate course, we analyzed argumentative texts written by students whose production was guided by the counter-inductive approach of knowledge proposed by Paul Feyerabend in his book ‘Against method’ (1975). It was applied a teaching practices activity about a topic on Immunology covering some aspects of the philosophy of science in higher education, particularly the philosophy of biology. The texts written by the students showed the presence of clearly identifiable argumentative structures and also the presence of contents related to scientific and philosophical contexts.

Highlights

Modern science had as its predominant methodological basis the empiricalinductive approach
In view of what has been said here, we ask ourselves: can we identify the methodology of counter-induction proposed by Feyerabend in arguments written by students in immunology classes? How can philosophical and scientific knowledge be articulated in the production of hypotheses similar to counterinduction demands in argumentative scientific practice? What is the scientific and/or philosophical knowledge mobilized by the students in the elaboration of the hypothetical proposals in the contraindication on immunology? our objective is to analyze the written arguments and the knowledge mobilized by those students, in the presentation of hypotheses about a central theme of immunology
Concerning the second category, the knowledge from the world of science, our analysis showed that the groups approached scientific knowledge, linked to experimental immunology, more in the Data part when compared to the other parts of the argument structure

Summary

Introduction

Modern science had as its predominant methodological basis the empiricalinductive approach. The historical and sociological explanations of science dynamics proposed by Thomas Kuhn helped enormously to bury this more traditional, linear, and progressive, empirical-inductive philosophy of science. In this context, and following the new path opened by his contemporaries, Paul Feyerabend can be seen as the one who breaks with the perspective of considering science the only valid form of knowledge about the world. Following the new path opened by his contemporaries, Paul Feyerabend can be seen as the one who breaks with the perspective of considering science the only valid form of knowledge about the world He is one of the greatest philosophers of science of the twentieth century. From Popper and Kuhn, he defended that there are other forms of knowledge as reliable, good and useful as scientific knowledge and, that is possible to build genuine knowledge on other bases than the methodological limits accepted by traditional practices of science

Objectives

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Conclusion