Original scientific paper

Physical Theories and Their Social and Cultural Environment

Mladen Pavičić ; University of Zagreb

Abstract

The problem of whether the cultural and social environment of natural sciences, physics in particular, can influence the structure of their theories is considered. It is argued that the structure of particular theories is often influenced by the environment however not in a direct way but through the scientific community itself in the process of its struggle to gain autonomy and respectability with the outer environment. In particular, such an influence occurs whenever rival theories, empirically indistinguishable at a given time, are formulated, without regard as to whether the scientific field in question is in a Kuhnian »crisis« or not. The mechanism whereby the scientific community homogenizes itself against the outer environment, by making a utilitarian and pragmatist selection among the rival theories is elaborated. The process is illustrated by the example of the wave-particle duality of light and matter.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

155703

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/155703

Publication date:

31.12.1987.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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