The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories. / Brorson, Stig.

In: Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Vol. 49, No. 1, 2006, p. 64-76.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Brorson, S 2006, 'The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories', Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, vol. 49, no. 1, pp. 64-76. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2006.0004

APA

Brorson, S. (2006). The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 49(1), 64-76. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2006.0004

Vancouver

Brorson S. The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. 2006;49(1):64-76. https://doi.org/10.1353/pbm.2006.0004

Author

Brorson, Stig. / The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories. In: Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. 2006 ; Vol. 49, No. 1. pp. 64-76.

Bibtex

@article{0dd2b1c043684333b4ea4ffbd390f51a,
title = "The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories",
abstract = "The Polish microbiologist and philosopher of science, Ludwik Fleck (1896-1961), was a pioneer in constructivist history and philosophy of science. Based on studies in the history of syphilis, Fleck hypothesized that many established scientific facts are linked, in their development, to pre-scientific {"}proto-ideas.{"} In 1935, Fleck proposed that the history of germ theories could be approached through his thesis on proto-ideas. His proposal, however, remained little more than a vague suggestion and was never developed in further detail. This paper introduces the concept of proto-ideas and discusses the central epistemological and historiographical implications of Fleck's thesis. The Fleckian approach offers an attractive alternative to positivist reconstructions of the early history of germ theories and provides a useful framework for a deeper understanding of the sociocultural background of the development of modern knowledge of infection.",
keywords = "Animals, History, 15th Century, History, 16th Century, History, 20th Century, Humans, Knowledge, Microbiology, Oligochaeta, Philosophy, Medical, Poland, Science, Sociology, Medical",
author = "Stig Brorson",
year = "2006",
doi = "10.1353/pbm.2006.0004",
language = "English",
volume = "49",
pages = "64--76",
journal = "Perspectives in Biology and Medicine",
issn = "0031-5982",
publisher = "TheJohns Hopkins University Press",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The seeds and the worms: Ludwik Fleck and the early history of germ theories

AU - Brorson, Stig

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - The Polish microbiologist and philosopher of science, Ludwik Fleck (1896-1961), was a pioneer in constructivist history and philosophy of science. Based on studies in the history of syphilis, Fleck hypothesized that many established scientific facts are linked, in their development, to pre-scientific "proto-ideas." In 1935, Fleck proposed that the history of germ theories could be approached through his thesis on proto-ideas. His proposal, however, remained little more than a vague suggestion and was never developed in further detail. This paper introduces the concept of proto-ideas and discusses the central epistemological and historiographical implications of Fleck's thesis. The Fleckian approach offers an attractive alternative to positivist reconstructions of the early history of germ theories and provides a useful framework for a deeper understanding of the sociocultural background of the development of modern knowledge of infection.

AB - The Polish microbiologist and philosopher of science, Ludwik Fleck (1896-1961), was a pioneer in constructivist history and philosophy of science. Based on studies in the history of syphilis, Fleck hypothesized that many established scientific facts are linked, in their development, to pre-scientific "proto-ideas." In 1935, Fleck proposed that the history of germ theories could be approached through his thesis on proto-ideas. His proposal, however, remained little more than a vague suggestion and was never developed in further detail. This paper introduces the concept of proto-ideas and discusses the central epistemological and historiographical implications of Fleck's thesis. The Fleckian approach offers an attractive alternative to positivist reconstructions of the early history of germ theories and provides a useful framework for a deeper understanding of the sociocultural background of the development of modern knowledge of infection.

KW - Animals, History, 15th Century, History, 16th Century, History, 20th Century, Humans, Knowledge, Microbiology, Oligochaeta, Philosophy, Medical, Poland, Science, Sociology, Medical

U2 - 10.1353/pbm.2006.0004

DO - 10.1353/pbm.2006.0004

M3 - Journal article

VL - 49

SP - 64

EP - 76

JO - Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

JF - Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

SN - 0031-5982

IS - 1

ER -

ID: 185941190