2007 – “La teoría de la bioquímica metabólica y sus aplicaciones propuestas”

• “La teoría de la bioquímica metabólica y sus aplicaciones propuestas” (escrito con Ana Donolo y Lucía Federico), en Martins, L.A.-C.P., Prestes, M.E.B., Stefano, W. y R.A. Martins (eds.), Filosofia e história da biologia 2, São Paulo: Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa (MackPesquisa), 2007, pp. 39-59.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es hacer un análisis de los contenidos de bioquímica metabólica de dos libros de textos universitarios: “Química Biológica” (Blanco, 1993) y “Bioquímica” (Stryer, 1988), por medio de la herramienta metateórica conocida con el nombre de concepción estructuralista de las teorías científicas, de manera tal de poder capturar aquellos elementos teóricos que coinciden con la noción de “ejemplos paradigmáticos” o “ejemplares” y a su vez integrarlos a una noción más amplia de teoría.

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2007 – “La mecánica de René Descartes”

• “La mecánica de René Descartes” (escrito con Daniel Blanco, Christián Carman, Ana Donolo, Lucía Federico, Santiago Ginnobili, Mariano Lastiri, Mercedes O’Lery y M. Eugenia Onaha), Epistemología e Historia de la Ciencia, vol. 13 (2007): 309-316.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es el de proporcionar una primera aproximación a la mecánica de René Descartes dentro del formato proporcionado por la concepción estructuralista de las teorías.

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2007 – “¿Son a priori las leyes de la biología?”

• “¿Son a priori las leyes de la biología?”, Epistemología e Historia de la Ciencia, vol. 13 (2007): 302-308.

El objetivo del presente trabajo es contribuir a la discusión acerca de las leyes de la biología, tratando de mostrar en qué medida puede sostenerse de un modo plausible tanto su existencia como su conceptualización como leyes a priori. Ello se hará a la luz del concepto de ley fundamental del estructuralismo metateórico, mencionando el caso de la ley fundamental de la genética clásica.

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2007 – “Exemplars, Models and Laws in Classical Genetics”

• “Exemplars, Models and Laws in Classical Genetics”, en Falguera, J.L., Martínez, M.C. and J.M. Sagüillo (eds.), Current Topics in Logic and Analytic Philosophy/Temas actuales de Lógica y Filosofía Analítica, Santiago de Compostela: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 2007, pp. 89-102.

Abstract

Taking as starting point Kuhn’s analysis of science textbooks and its application to Sinnott and Dunn’s (1925), it will be discussed the problem of the existence of laws in biology. In particular, it will be showed, in accordance with the proposals of Darden (1991) and Schaffner (1980, 1986, 1993), the relevance of the exemplars, diagrammatically or graphically represented, in the way in which is carried out the teaching and learning process of classical genetics, inasmuch as the information contained in them, indispensable for the right development of that process, exceeds the information contained in the “laws” linguistically articulated and presented in the textbooks. However, it will be maintained that the information is implicit in the law that according to the structuralist concept of fundamental law and the reconstruction of genetics presented by Balzer & Dawe (1990), and later developed by Balzer & Lorenzano (1997) and Lorenzano (1995, 2000, 2002a) could be considered the fundamental law of classical genetics,the law of matching, clearly identified in this paper.

Keywords: textbook, biological theory, classical genetics, exemplar, model, principle, fundamental law, special law.

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2007 – “Logic and Methodology of Science: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science”

• “Logic and Methodology of Science: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science”, en Lorenzano, P., Galles, C., Rheinberger, H.-J. and E. Ortiz (eds.), History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, en Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), Developed under the Auspices of the UNESCO, Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK [http://www.eolss.net], 2007.

This chapter presents some aspects of the logic and methodology of science within the framework of the philosophy of science. This, as well as the history of science, the psychology of science, the sociology of science, the anthropology of science, the politics of science, and the economics of science, is part of the so-called metascientific studies or science studies or, more precisely, studies about science, which have science as its object of study, with the aim of understanding both its nature and the way it functions, better. Nevertheless, since it makes a reflection on science from philosophy, it is also a part of it. The present chapter could be considered an introduction to certain subjects which we consider central and basic in metascientific reflection in general and philosophical reflection on science in particular. These subjects are the nature and function of philosophy of science (Section 1), the scientific concepts and the test and evaluation of hypotheses (Section 2), the notions of scientific law and explanation (Section 3) and of scientific theory (Section 4). While we are dealing with each one of these subjects, we will persistently refer to methods, developments and authors belonging to the various phases we have identified in the history of the philosophy of science of the 20th century and of the 21st century so far. This chapter comes under the level of the general philosophy of science and, from there, it will provide elements which will enable us to reflect on the different particular scientific practices and theorizations. It will also make the link between these reflections and those made from other perspectives -historical, psychological, sociological, anthropological, political, economic- possible, in order to lead to a better understanding of at least one of the aspects of the exciting world around us: the world of science.

Acceder a History and Philosophy of Science and Technology.

2007 – “The Influence of Genetics on Philosophy of Science: Classical Genetics and the Structuralist View of Theories”

• “The Influence of Genetics on Philosophy of Science: Classical Genetics and the Structuralist View of Theories”, en Fagot-Largeault, A., Torres, J.M. y S. Rahman (eds.), The Influence of Genetics on Contemporary Thinking, Dordrecht: Springer, 2007, pp. 99-115.

Abstract
Taking as starting point the first textbook of classical genetics that clearly exemplifies all the features that Kuhn takes to be constitutive of a science textbook, Sinnott and Dunn’s (1925), as well as Darden’s (1991) and Schaffner’s (1980, 1986, 1993) analyses of the structure of biomedical and/or biological theories, I will discuss the problem of the existence of laws in biology. The framework of this discussion is provided by the structuralist conception of theories. The result of this analysis will be the identification of the fundamental law of classical genetics: the law of matching, which satisfies all weak necessary conditions for law-likeness that are postulated by the structuralist approach of theories, and the recognition of the so-called ‘Mendel’s Laws’ as special laws of classical genetics. This shows that the structuralist view is capable of providing an interesting perspective on genetics, which, in turn, has a positive effect on philosophy of science, because it shows we have a framework at hand in which important philosophical problems can fruitfully be addressed.

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2007 – “Leyes fundamentales y leyes de la biología”

• “Leyes fundamentales y leyes de la biología”, Scientiae Studia.Revista Latino-Americana de Filosofía e História da Ciência 5(2) (2007): 185-214.

Abstract

In this paper I discuss the problem of scientific laws in general and laws of biology in particular. After reviewing the debate about the existence of laws in biology, I examine the subject under the light of the structuralist notion of a fundamental law and argue for the law of matching as the fundamental law of genetics.

Keywords

scientific law – law of biology – universality – necessity – a prioricity – structuralist view – fundamental law – genetics – law of matching

Resumen

En este artículo discuto el problema de las leyes científicas en general y de las leyes de la biología en particular. Después de pasar revista al debate acerca de la existencia de leyes en biología, examino el tema a la luz de la noción estructuralista de ley fundamental y argumento a favor de la ley de concordancia como la ley fundamental de la genética.

Palabras clave

ley científica – ley de la biología – universalidad – necesidad – a prioricidad – concepción estructuralista – ley fundamental – genética – ley de concordancia

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2007 – “Filosofía diacrónica de la ciencia: el caso de la genética clásica”

• “Filosofía diacrónica de la ciencia: el caso de la genética clásica”, en Martins, L.A.-C.P., Prestes, M.E.B., Stefano, W. y R.A. Martins (eds.), Filosofia e história da biologia 2, São Paulo: Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa (MackPesquisa), 2007, pp. 369-392. ISBN: 978-85-89328-13-5.

Resumen

En esta trabajo, luego de presentar un criterio de identidad de teorías, exploraré la posibilidad de tratar la historia de la genética clásica, e.e. la relación existente entre Mendel, los “redescubridores” –de Vries, Correns y Tschermak–, Bateson y Morgan, en términos de cambio científico de tipo “interteórico”, de forma tal de poder capturar y precisar tanto la idea de que entre éstas se dan ciertas discontinuidades y rupturas como de que éstas tienen “algo” que ver entre sí, o sea, de que entre ellas las rupturas no son totales, en ninguno de los niveles: conceptual, metodológico y aplicativo.

Palabras clave: filosofía diacrónica de la ciencia, identidad de teorías, cambio interteórico, genética clásica

Abstract

In this paper, after presenting a criterium of theories identity, I will explore the possibility of treating the history of classical genetics, i.e. the existing relationship between Mendel, the “rediscoverers” –de Vries, Correns and Tschermak–, Bateson and Morgan, in terms of scientific change of an “intertheoretic” kind, in such a way that it will be possible to capture and to precise the idea of certain discontinuities and ruptures between them as well as the idea that these proposals have “something” in common –meaning that the ruptures between them are not total in neither of the following levels: conceptual, methodological and applicative.

Keywords: diachronic philosophy of science, theories identitiy, intertheoretic change, classical genetics

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