History Of Science Research Articles

In search of a predictable past

The article is a reflection on reading the book by Academician A.V. Torkunov and Professor V.V. Degoev “Russian History: State. Civilization, External World” (Moscow: Aspect Press, 2024) in connection with the problems raised in it in the spheres of economy, state and society structure in Russia, up to the problems of its foreign policy. In their voluminous work, involving the methodology of historical sciences and related disciplines, the authors paid attention to the issues of human relations with society and the state in Russia, which, as elsewhere, were not always friendly and have never been simple. Reading the monograph encourages reflection on the patterns of development of Russian statehood over a huge period of time from the second half of the 9th century to the beginning of the 20th century, — from the formation of the Kyiv state to the First World War, - including the periods of Ancient Rus’, medieval Muscovy and the Russian Empire.

On the relationship of legality and social justice in law enforcement practice (to the 180th anniversary of the birth of A.F. Koni)

The problem of the relationship between law, legality and social justice is one of the fundamental problems of legal theory and law enforcement practice.The purpose of the study is to assess the problem field in the relationship between the principles of legality and social justice in domestic law enforcement practice and to substantiate the key role of the principle of social justice in its further development. The authors proceed from the position that the theoretical and practical experience of posing and interpreting this problem, accumulated in the history of world and Russian legal science, is an epistemological and worldview resource that has not only theoretical, but also quite practical significance.Methodology. Analytical methods were used to study the relationship between legality and social justice, historical-retrospective and hermeneutical methods in revealing the semantic meaning of these concepts, as well as a dialectical method in interpreting existing contradictions in their law enforcement practice.Results. The article, taking into account the current two main trends - on the one hand, towards “de-ideologization” and, on the other hand, towards “re-ideologization” of legal science - examines the relationship and interpretation of such concepts as “legality”, “law”, "legal proceedings", "social justice" in modern scientific (legal) discourse and in law enforcement practice. The development of the semantic content of the principle of social justice is shown through the concepts of “justice” (Aristotle), “moral perfection” (B.A. Kistyakovsky), “decent human existence” (P.I. Novgorodtsev), “proportionality” (A.F. Koni) etc. Based on a comparison of different theoretical and methodological approaches to defining these concepts, their content and role in law enforcement practice are revealed. A provision has been formulated on the need to expand openness and public principles in improving legal proceedings, since the encountered practice of closed legal proceedings does not correspond to the principles of openness and publicity. The problematic issues of the comprehend theory of law associated with the blurring of the concepts of “legality” and “social justice” in the context of existing ideological pluralism are revealed. In connection with the anniversary – the 180th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Russian lawyer A.F. Koni, his contribution to the development of ideas about legal morality and judicial ethics is shown. In particular, his idea about the “spirit of legality”, that the “truth of life” should be higher than the “legal truth”.Conclusion. Taking into account the influence that ideology has on the law, a position has been formulated on the need to form a unified ideological view in determining socially fair legal content and its clear legislative codification. The main trends in the development of modern scientific ideas about the relationship between ideology and law have been identified. The thesis about the key importance of social justice in the development of law and legality is substantiated.

Trofim Lysenko’s “New doctrine of the species”: an attempt at close reading

One of the core themes in the Soviet Michurinist biology was pointing out Darwin’s “errors” and a plea for a revision of classical Darwinism, allegedly based on “flat evolutionism” (= gradualism) and misinterpretation of the dialectics of the organic evolution. The result was the so-called “Soviet creative Darwinism” that promoted fundamentally new concepts of the biological species and speciation, and was coined the “new doctrine of the species” (NDS) during the 1952–1955 discussion. Even though Lysenkoism has been thoroughly studied, the basic postulates of the NDS, its logical structure and genesis remained outside the scope of attention of the historians of science. Based on primary sources, principally on T. D. Lysenko’s own publications, this article is an attempt at presenting a holistic view of the NDS and identifying its conceptual origins. The content of the NDS is shown to be closely associated with the postulates of dialectical materialism used as the philosophical grounding for the new theory. Most of its biological content is not original and was borrowed by Lysenko from other sources. The more or less original elements of the “new doctrine” were the rejection of the intraspecific struggle for existence and the “physiological” concept of speciation, based on the belief that the most important mechanism of evolutionary transformations is changes in species-specific metabolism. Both of these elements were rejected by biology in the course of its further advancement while some others (inheritance of acquired traits, speciation by leaps) find their supporters today. However, modern ideas of saltational evolution have no continuity with the NDS, as they are based on the mutational paradigm rejected by Lysenko.

The fate of the «bison»

The review talks about the book by A.A. Ivanov about the leader of the Black Hundreds N.E. Markov. It is emphasized that the book was written on a very serious source base and is the result of many years of work. The author explores in great detail all stages of Markov’s biography, the features of his political views, party, zemstvo and Duma activities. It is shown that Markov, like most other party leaders of the early twentieth century, weakly expressed the interests and desires of their supporters. Work by A.A. Ivanov is a significant contribution to historical science.

Iconographic Aspects of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact: A Comparative Analysis of Documentary Photographs

Based on the surviving 1939 photographs and their comparative analysis, the article reveals the main visual differences that emerged when photographing two different German-USSR bilateral treaty signing ceremonies. This is important and relevant because in scientific literature, history textbooks and other educational materials, as well as in exhibitions and media articles devoted to history, photographsfrom the signing of the German–Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty on 28 September 1939 are often mistakenly used to illustrate the signing of the non-aggression pact concluded between Germany and the USSR in Moscow on 23 August 1939, five weeks earlier. Since these two treaties were signed by the same two people – Vyacheslav Molotov and Joachim von Ribbentrop – at the same desk in the same office of the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR in the Moscow Kremlin, it is not that easy to distinguish at first glance which treaty is being signed in one photograph or another. The photographs are often confused, arbitrarily choosing the ones that look more expressive for the sake of illustration. The article presents visual material, its analysis, insights and generalisations that will help to avoid the photograph attribution errors that are so common in using old photographs to illustrate the signing of the 23 August 1939 Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The social agency of instruments of surveying and exploration c.1830–1930

ABSTRACT This paper utilizes the concept of the agency of material objects, proposed as a tenet by several historians of science in the late twentieth century. It argues that scientific instruments have agency in the field due to their value and fragility, both of which attributes served to dictate a social hierarchy of activity. Furthermore, the resulting numerical outputs served to discriminate between various groups. The principal focus is the role of instruments used by travellers sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society, London, but it also looks at the role of instruments on a larger triangulation; the project to survey the African part of the arc of the 30th meridian east of Greenwich. Seeing the instruments as material objects allows insights into the social arrangements and interactions taking place. It is argued that instruments, and the results of instrument use, entrenched existing power hierarchies, imparting greater prestige to those who were previously endowed with privilege. It is argued the instruments contributed to ‘othering’ both in the field and in the publications resulting from the expeditions.

THE HISTORIOGRAPHY OF UKRAINIAN PHILOSOPHY AND THE STUDIES IN HISTORIOGRAPHY OF PHILOSOPHY IN UKRAINE

Drawing on recent publications on studies in historiography of philosophy in French-, English-, and German-speaking philosophy, the author clarifies the subject matter and tasks of studies in historiography of philosophy as a historico-philosophical approach, in particular, counting among such subjects the images of philosophy's past constructed by histories of philosophy, as well as the historiographical attitudes of historians of philosophy and the contexts and factors that determine these historiographical attitudes. The article analyses the conceptions and implementations of three projects of studies in historiography of philosophy that have taken place in Ukraine in recent decades: the project of “History of Historico-philosophical Science”, led by Yu. Kushakov in the 1980s and 2000s and dedicated to the study of historico-philosophical conceptions of German and Russian philosophers of the 19th and early 20th; S. Rudenko's study of post-Soviet methodological approaches to the history of Ukrainian philosophy (2012); and the Ukrainian part of the bilateral project “Philosophy in the system of national culture: comparative analysis of historico-philosophical studies in Belarus and Ukraine” (2011-2012), led by V. Yevarousky and S. Yosypenko. Based on the results of the latter project and on his more recent research, the author outlines the socio-political, general philosophical and institutional context in which the historiography of Ukrainian philosophy was formed and functioned during the 20th century; analyses the images of the history of Ukrainian philosophy created by D. Tschižewskij and V. Horskyi, which embody two extreme points in the development of the historiography of Ukrainian philosophy in the 20th century; and points out the changes in the general philosophical and institutional context of historico-philosophical research in independent Ukraine and the consequences of these changes for the further development of the historiography of Ukrainian philosophy.

A STRUCTURE FOR HISTORY: REFLECTIONS FROM KUHN’S HISTORIOGRAPHIC STUDIES

In the present work, we aim to analyze Lorraine Daston’s critiques of the historiographical value of Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: we will defend its relevance from the attacks of “the history of contingencies”. Daston’s proposal asserts that the Kuhnian historiographical programme of professionalizing the history of science (moving it towards history departments to the detriment of science departments) has been fulfilled but has resulted in the abandonment of the Hegelian spirit from Kuhn’s historiography, i.e. the search for “a structure” of the history of science has been abandoned. We will analyze and incorporate the recent responses from K. Brad Wray and Pablo Melogno. Finally, through a thorough analysis of the relationships between philosophy and the history of science, particularly in Kuhn’s work, we will propose a defense of the systematic and explicit use of metatheoretical structures for historiographical endeavors.

BEFORE STRUCTURE. THE RISE OF KUHN’S CONCEPTUAL SCHEME IN THE COPERNICAN REVOLUTION

Thomas S. Kuhn’s intellectual development could be summed up in a two-stage course, first, the transition from physics to the history of science (primarily physics) and then from the history of science to the philosophy of science, a field in which he achieved consecration with The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (SSR) published in 1962. In the 1950s, before SSR, Kuhn dealt with the history of science and, finally, developed a detailed research on the case of the Copernican Revolution, publishing a book with the same name. The Copernican Revolution. Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought (CR). My aim in this paper is to argue that in this case study Kuhn identified all those situations that he will later describe in the terms of the SSR’s vocabulary, from “paradigm” and “incommensurability”, to “normal science” and “scientific revolution.” I think that although the terminological options in CR differ, such as, for example, the use of the expression “conceptual scheme” for what will later be called “paradigm”, a simple conceptual archaeology directs us to claim that CR is the immediate predecessor of SSR.

A Lantern View from The Ruwenzori Mountain Range

This article explores the role of magic lantern performances in Belgian colonial history, and their impact on broader discussions on science communication and colonial representations. It centers on a lantern lecture that recounted a scientific expedition to the Ruwenzori mountain range in the Belgian Congo in 1932, extensively illustrated with photographic slides. Our analysis focuses on the performative strategies employed by Ganshof Van der Meersch, the lecturer, to frame his scientific discourse on the Ruwenzori mission. Drawing on visual tropes and the narrative structures of an adventurous travel story, he emphasizes the hardships and heroism of the expedition members. While the scientific aspects of the mission are highlighted, the lecture predominantly portrays the scientific process and the heroic endeavors of the members, rather than delving into the region’s fauna and flora. This narrative reinforces Western superiority over the colonized territory and its inhabitants, aligning with imperialist agendas. Enhanced by captivating visuals, the lecture strategically evokes emotional engagement to solicit financial support. By examining these dynamics, the article unveils the underlying mechanisms behind science communication in service of colonial endeavors. In the broader context of colonial studies and the history of science and knowledge, this analysis contributes to understanding of how performance-based science communication was used to advance the colonial agenda.

Дорожное хозяйство Дальнего Востока России в период новой экономической политики (1922–1927 гг.)

The article highlights the work on the establishment of the road works management apparatus, the road works themselves carried out in the Far Eastern region after the Civil War and intervention. There were certain organi-zational difficulties in road construction, which were managed only after the creation of the Far Eastern Railway District. The authors give a brief list of restored and under construction dirt and highway roads of both state and local importance. At the same time, particular attention is paid to the construction of the Amur-Yakutsk highway, the laying of which began during the First World War. The article discusses the main problems of the industry’s development: lack of funds, lack of engineering and technical personnel and road workers. This, in turn, caused the need to use the free labor of the surrounding peasants in the construction of local roads. The first steps in the mechanization of road works in the region are highlighted. When writing the article, the authors relied on methodological principles generally recognized in historical science, the most important of which are the principle of objectivity and the principle of historicism.

EDMUND T. WHITTAKER, PHYSICS AND CATHOLICISM. THOUGHTS OF A CONVERT

In 1951, Pope Pius XII gave a long speech with the unequivocal title ‘The proofs for the existence of God in the light of modern natural science’, dealing with the relationship between modern science, Thomism and theology. The event was widely reported in the British press partly because the only living scientist quoted in that discourse was the Edinburgh emeritus professor of mathematics and convert to Catholicism, Edmund T. Whittaker (1873–1956), who was, in the 1930s and 1940s, producing his own corpus on the then-popular subject of science and religion. In this article, using the vast and unexplored correspondence between Whittaker and his son, the mathematician John M. Whittaker (1905–1984), I shall explore his thoughts and popular works, in which he mixed modern physics and mathematics, philosophy, apologetics, and theology. Whittaker is well known among historians of science for his A history of the theories of aether and electricity , the work of a hard-working, self-trained history aficionado. Similarly, after his conversion (in 1930, at the age of 57), Whittaker started reading and forming his own views around the official philosophy of the Catholic Church, Thomism. The core idea with which he justified his conversion and which would be the backbone of his speculations on natural theology was ‘sacramentality’. With it, he thought he could bridge the gap between mathematics, modern physics, and religion, and all with a sui generis embrace of Thomism.

KUHN’S PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND THE DEFENSE OF SCIENTIFIC RATIONALITY

In the present paper, I provide a reconstruction of Kuhn’s philosophy of history of science based mainly on Kuhn’s criticism of Lakatos. My goal is to examine the compatibility of the Kuhnian philosophy of history with his explicit aspiration to defend scientific rationality. I argue that the Kuhnian philosophy of history is essentially formed by three tenets: (a) contextualism, (b) radical anti-presentism, and (c) naturalism. I conclude that the combination of those three tenets is incompatible with the logical distinguishability between being-justified and being-taken-to-be-justified, which is a prerequisite for the proper defense of scientific rationality.

Violence and the public narratives of history of science

The value of the humanities is severely limited by outmoded chronological frameworks, which continue to dominate public discussion and educational curricula while being rejected in current research. Even in adjacent academic fields, the history of science is often understood as a series of revolutions, particularly the much-criticised ‘Scientific Revolution’ of the 17th century. The view of science as a sequence of dramatic revolutions, famously articulated in the work of Thomas Kuhn, originated around 1900 in attempts to market a Eurocentric view of science-based industrial progress. It is, however, seriously misleading. The key issue is violence. The concept of scientific revolutions locates epistemic violence within specialist communities, obscuring the role of the sciences in colonial conquest and in silencing other ways of knowing. (This article is published in the thematic collection ‘The arts and humanities: rethinking value for today—views from Fellows of the British Academy’, edited by Isobel Armstrong.)

CONSERVATISM AND LIBERALISM: THE SEARCH FOR A COMPROMISE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORICAL SCIENCE IN RUSSIA

In the article, the author reviews modern research on the history of the development of conservatism in Russia. In particular, the problem of finding a compromise between conservative and liberal approaches in the context of the development of Russian historical science is considered.

2000 лет со дня рождения Плиния Старшего

The article is timed to the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Pliny the Elder (23–79 A.D.), the author of «Natural History», in which two last volumes are devoted to rocks and minerals. Attention is drawn to the fact that he was the first to fix polyhedron attributes (faces, edges, vertices) on perfect natural crystals. It was not until 16 centuries later that their measurements led to the empirical laws of N. Steno (1638–1686) and R. J. Haüy (1743–1822). Translations from «Natural History» are given according to V. M. Severgin, descriptions of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 are taken from the XVI letter to Tacitus by Pliny Jr. The purpose of the article is to accurately set the stage for the history of mineralogy and crystallography. It is aimed at historians of science, as well as teachers, graduate students and students of geological faculties of universities. The citation of old and ancient authors in the article is important to prove the main thesis — the priority of Pliny the Elder, and also aims to attract young researchers to read primary sources.

The arts and humanities: rethinking value for today—introduction

This kaleidoscope of short pieces derives from two Fellows Engagement Week sessions (2022, 2023) in which speakers from across the British Academy—Theatre Studies, Anthropology, Modern History, History of Science, English, Philosophy, Music—gave ten-minute talks on the civic value of the arts and humanities. The British Academy’s SHAPE acronym, answering the Royal Society’s STEM formulation, understandably stresses the economic importance of arts and humanities in today’s challenging technological world (E is for Economy). The remit of this forum, however, was to remake and reclaim arguments for the civic importance of arts and humanities, recognising that accounts of the arts are often based on 19th-century arguments that no longer have force today. Three themes emerge from this forum: the importance of collaboration, the non-instrumental significance of aesthetic experience, and the centrality of language to civic life. (This article is published in the thematic collection `The arts and humanities: rethinking value for today—views from Fellows of the British Academy’, edited by Isobel Armstrong.)

Prof. dr hab. Lucyna Elżbieta Śliwa – Lady of <i>Lecanora</i>

In 2024, Professor Lucyna Śliwa celebrates her sixtieth birthday and the fortieth anniversary of her scientific career. Her achievements in lichenological research, along with her professional career and the positions she has held, ensure her a place in the history of science forever.

Understanding the various scientific theories in the history of science

Understanding the various scientific theories in the history of science

Mellan disciplin och profession.

This article describes and analyzes the formation of subject didactic research through the interaction between different disciplinary starting points and the new demands for profession-oriented interdisciplinary research fields, with subject didactics serving as an example. The focus is on the early development of literature didactics in Sweden. The main research question is: How have early internal factors, such as the discipline of literary studies, and external factors, including changes in the school system, education policy, or the social climate in general, influenced or contributed to the repertoire of research questions, methods, and theories within the field now known as literature didactics? The material analyzed, from the perspective of the history and sociology of science, consists of the scientific production from two early literary didactic contributions (1960–1980). The results follow two lines. The first formulates and develops subject didactic relevant issues from interdisciplinary starting points. The second develops subject didactic research based on the practical aspects of school teaching. Both lines of development in subject didactic research are strengthened and accelerated by external research funding, which also brings them closer together in several respects. The results are discussed based on Fensham's (2003) criteria for when a subject didactic research field can be considered established, Bernstein's (2003) dichotomy between singularities and regions, and Abbot's (2001) fractal theory for the development of new disciplines and research areas. The main conclusion is that the heterogeneity of the current field, in terms of paradigmatic orientations, and its homogeneity in certain theoretical starting points and recurring questions, can be clarified through this prehistory.