Lilian Al-Chueyr Pereira Martins

História da Ciência: objetos, métodos e problemas

O objetivo deste artigo e auxiliar o trabalho de pessoas que estao se iniciando na pesquisa de Historia da Ciencia, especialmente em relacao a um determinado tipo de trabalho a que nos dedicamos. Este tratara da escolha de um tema adequado de pesquisa, dos tipos de fontes encontradas em Historia da Ciencia e de alguns problemas encontrados em trabalhos de Historia da Ciencia. Este estudo levou a conclusao de que so se apreende a fazer pesquisa em Historia da Ciencia a partir da pratica e que um bom historiador da ciencia se constroi a longo prazo.

McClung and gender determination: from wrong to right

Focusing primarily on McClungs hypothesis linking the extra chromosome (X) to gender determination, the article studies some contributions derived from the initial stages in development of the chromosome theory of gender determination. The arguments of McClung and others are analyzed, along with the reaction of the eras scientific community. Although McClungs hypothesis was wrong, it triggered a series of research studies that eventually led to clarification of the question. Even mistaken hypotheses, when adopted for investigation and testing, can contribute to scientific development.

A metodologia de Lamarck

This paper studies Lamarcks scientific method both from the point of view of his methodological discourse and according to his scientific praxis. Lamarcks methodology is compared to Condillacs as well as to that of the ideologues - a group in which Lamarck is usually included. The analysis of this paper shows that Lamarcks methodological discourse is very similar to Condillacs, but his scientific praxis does not follow this view. Instead of following an empiricist approach, Lamarcks work is grounded upon general metaphysical principles concerning nature. Thus, from the ideologuess point of view, Lamarcks work should have been rejected -and that is what really happened - as being a mere metaphysical system (systemej - in the pejorative sense employed by Condillacs followers. However, the present work argues that this is in fact an important and innovative aspect of Lamarcks work and that it lead to the emergence of modern evolutionism.