Comparison at the Interface of the Physical Sciences and the Life Sciences, 1960–2000 (D06 [C04])

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One important outcome of the first phase of the project was that although it is possible to identify conceptual obstacles to comparison, these were dissolved quickly by emphasizing certain tertia comparationis and downgrading others. In the second phase, we are exploring the reasons for such a privileging of certain standards of comparison. We assume that the formation of scientific disciplines through narratives of progress is an influential factor. This indicates that factors from the outside of science may have been of prime importance. This hypothesis will be assessed by comparing the impact of such external or social factors with the internal drive to expand the domain of methods. The project serves to elaborate on the influence of social and epistemic comparisons on the formation of scientific disciplines and on conceptual and institutional changes in the life sciences.