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Huygens' theory of research and descartes' theory of knowledge II

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Summary

A sketch is given of a way of looking at science. Research is viewed as a complex of cognitive processes with a theoretical and experimental sides. A distinction is made between context of discovery and context of presentation. In the latter “paragons of science” come into play. From this platform the “theory of research” of Christian Huygens is examined, in its contemporary situation between Baconian empiricism and Cartesian rationalism, and in connection with Galileo's outlook on method. Huygens' attitude on legitimating the results of his research production is also examined. The paper employs a method of case study, which is also discusses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Wissenschaftsforschung der Universität, Södra vägen 61, S-41254, Göteborg, Schweden

    Aant Elzinga

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  1. Aant Elzinga
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Teil I in: Zeitschrift für allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie, Band II, Heft 2 (1971), S. 174–194.

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Elzinga, A. Huygens' theory of research and descartes' theory of knowledge II. Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie 3, 9–27 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01800816

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