Darwin-L Message Log 3:38 (November 1993)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

<3:38>From c.lavastida1@genie.geis.com  Sat Nov  6 09:53:59 1993

From: c.lavastida1@genie.geis.com
Date: Sat,  6 Nov 93 15:49:00 BST
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: scientific and popular explanations

Most of the time, rejection means the idea doesn't stand up.
 ----------
That is not quite true, as far as scientific ideas (I am not talking about
astrology); someone mentioned Kuhn's Revolution...earlier. It is his thesis
that before a new paradigm is accepted the old paradigm must undergo major
structural failures; this makes it quite possible, even likely, that many
good hypothese will be rejected out of hand due to insufficient weakness in
the current paradigm. I am not a biologist or a paleontologist, but it is my
understanding that Darwin's own anti-Lammarckism  and ignorance of genetics
eventually was discarded and Wallace's narrower conception of natural
selection accepted. During a period of roughly 75 years, any hypotheses,
scientific or not, that did not conform to the Darwinian theory in toto was
not entertained.
 Carlos.