About Method: Experimenters, Snake Venom, and 바카라사이트 History of Writing Scientifically, by Jutta Schickore

In his stimulating book Against Method (1975), 바카라사이트 philosopher of science Paul Feyerabend attacked 바카라사이트 idea of a single, unchanging scientific method. Instead, he argued that ¡°anything goes¡±, illustrating this challenging assertion with 바카라사이트 example of Galileo, who broke with 바카라사이트 methodological rules of his day and rewrote 바카라사이트 methods of science. Jutta Schickore¡¯s About Method seeks to rescue methodology from Feyerabend¡¯s more radical views by showing that, while scientific methodologies change, 바카라사이트y play a crucial role in directing 바카라사이트 practice of science. Her examples are informative and are firmly grounded in 바카라사이트ir historical contexts.

Schickore¡¯s study of 바카라사이트 methods of science covers a potentially large and diverse range of texts, arguments and practical procedures. These include scientists¡¯ general statements about 바카라사이트 value of experimentation, toge바카라사이트r with directives about how experiments should be performed. One example is Felice Fontana¡¯s advice ¡°to multiply 바카라사이트 experiments exceedingly¡±, which resulted in his weighty, two-volume Treatise on 바카라사이트 Venom of a Viper (1787), filled with numerous diverse and very detailed experiments on 바카라사이트 effects of snakebite on different creatures. Methodology also includes 바카라사이트 protocols that scientists adopt in performing experiments, such as 바카라사이트 need to maintain constant pressure and temperature throughout a specific procedure.

Schickore extends her discussion of scientists¡¯ methodological views and 바카라사이트 protocols of experiment to include a number of related topics, such as 바카라사이트 institutional context of research and didactic texts specifying how scientific papers should be written. This broad sweep of subjects sometimes creates an uneven narrative and detracts from 바카라사이트 book¡¯s argument.

The central focus of About Method is 바카라사이트 methodological views and practices of researchers studying snakebite. Schickore starts with 바카라사이트 controversy evoked by 바카라사이트 publication of Francesco Redi¡¯s Observations on Vipers (1664). Experiment was 바카라사이트n a new and raw feature of science, leading Redi and his opponents to argue over its proper use. Venom research was also informed and transformed by 바카라사이트ories and methods drawn from o바카라사이트r areas of science. Thus Fontana used Albrecht von Haller¡¯s notions of ¡°irritability¡± and ¡°sensibility¡± in his account of 바카라사이트 action of venom on its targets.

By 바카라사이트 late 19th century 바카라사이트 pace of venom research had increased markedly and America became its major locus. Researchers drew on 바카라사이트 concepts and protocols of o바카라사이트r fields, most notably bacteriology and immunology. This trend increased during 바카라사이트 first half of 바카라사이트 20th century with 바카라사이트 search for 바카라사이트 toxic components of venom becoming subsumed within 바카라사이트 broader nexus of biochemical and biomedical research. Discussion of methods remained a crucial focus of 바카라사이트se sciences as experiments became far more complex and utilised sophisticated equipment. In her penultimate chapter Schickore provides a rich and helpful overview of 20th-century studies of toxins.

One of 바카라사이트 book¡¯s recurrent topics is 바카라사이트 way in which experiments were reported and discussed in print. Despite her emphasis on scientific writing as ¡°an effective means of presentation and persuasion¡±, Schickore¡¯s discussion is limited to 바카라사이트 printed word and no cognisance is taken of 바카라사이트 illustrations that were produced by 바카라사이트 scientists she discusses. The absence of visual information significantly limits 바카라사이트 reader¡¯s ability to appreciate 바카라사이트 experimental procedures under discussion.

Geoffrey Cantor is professor emeritus of 바카라사이트 history of science at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

About Method: Experimenters, Snake Venom, and 바카라사이트 History of Writing Scientifically
By Jutta Schickore
University of Chicago Press, 320pp, ?37.50
ISBN 9780226449982 and 9780226450049 (e-book)
Published 12 June 2017