Concepts at work: the dynamics of scientific concepts in the case of research on multiple and interacting galaxies (1925-1980)

工作中的概念：在多个相互作用的星系研究中科学概念的动态（1925-1980）

• 批准号: 289438140
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Friedrich Steinle
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Institut für Philosophie, Literatur-, Wissenschafts- und Technikgeschichte
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2015-12-31 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/289438140?language=en
• 关键词: Concepts; work; dynamics; scientific; concepts

The proposed project's objectives are twofold: first, it aims at reconstructing an important development within 20th century astrophysics; second, this reconstruction should contribute to our general understanding of the dynamics of empirical concepts in modern sciences. The investigation focuses on the studies of galaxies between 1925 and 1980 and, more specifically, on the innovative strand which studied so called multiple and interacting galaxies. This research strand has scarcely been subject to historical analysis, but fundamental in the development of the galaxy concept and instigated a whole new outlook for cosmological studies in which galaxies developed from being stationary island universes and mere markers of a mapping science into dynamic entities and 'cosmic laboratories' of a quasi experimental science. At the same time, the research strand features a very specific research constellation: a small number of researchers in different countries working under diverging research conditions who communicated with each other for the longest time on the basis of very little empirical data. This exchange entailed the continuous transformation of the galaxy concept; it will hence lie at the heart of the investigation. In historical presentations, mainly presented by astronomy itself, unexpected chance discoveries triggered by technological progress, while taking place within an essentially unchanging framework of concepts have been perceived as the main impulses for the advancement of astrophysics. The project has the potential to revise this perspective. By focusing on conceptual frameworks and their shifts and transformations within the scientific communication, the project takes a novel approach. Moreover, the investigation will show how this 'putting concepts into work' allowed for the integration i.e. coexistence of diverging research outlooks before they gradually merged into a coherent research activity. Finally, this focus will bear insights into conceptual dynamics and thus place the project within the context of a new historical interest for scientific concepts. As part of an interdisciplinary group project which brings together history, philosophy as well as sociology of science and aims at making fruitful use of the comparative theory of science of Ludwik Fleck, the study will, furthermore, contribute to the shared investigation of how astrophysical facts come into being and develop.

拟议项目的目标有两个：首先，它旨在重建 20 世纪天体物理学的重要发展；其次，这种重建应该有助于我们对现代科学中经验概念的动态的一般理解。该调查的重点是 1925 年至 1980 年间的星系研究，更具体地说，是研究所谓的多重相互作用星系的创新链。这一研究方向几乎没有经过历史分析，但却是星系概念发展的基础，并引发了宇宙学研究的全新前景，其中星系从静止的岛屿宇宙和绘图科学的单纯标记发展成为动态实体和准实验科学的“宇宙实验室”。同时，该研究链具有非常具体的研究集群：不同国家的少数研究人员在不同的研究条件下工作，他们在很少的实证数据的基础上进行了最长的交流。这种交流导致了银河系概念的不断转变。因此，它将成为调查的核心。在历史呈现中，主要由天文学本身呈现，由技术进步引发的意外偶然发现，同时发生在基本不变的概念框架内，被视为天体物理学进步的主要推动力。该项目有可能改变这一观点。通过关注概念框架及其在科学传播中的转变和转变，该项目采取了一种新颖的方法。此外，调查将展示这种“将概念付诸实践”如何实现整合，即不同研究观点共存，然后逐渐融合为连贯的研究活动。最后，这一重点将深入了解概念动态，从而将该项目置于科学概念新的历史兴趣的背景下。作为一个跨学科小组项目的一部分，该项目汇集了历史、哲学和科学社会学，旨在有效利用路德维克·弗莱克的比较科学理论，此外，这项研究还将有助于共同研究天体物理学事实如何产生和发展。