The challenges of writing science

2019 ◽  
pp. 90-103
Author(s):  
Tzipora Rakedzon
Keyword(s):  
Writing Science

Writing Science: The Abstract is Poetry, the Paper is Prose

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 2601-2604
Author(s):  
Gerald Weissmann
Keyword(s):  
Writing Science

Writing Science II

1980 ◽  
Vol 162 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-113
Author(s):  
David Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Writing Science

Soups and Sparks Revisited

Nuncius ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Borck
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Science ◽  
Nervous Activity ◽  
Synaptic Cleft ◽  
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ◽  
History Of ◽  
Instruments And Techniques ◽  
Writing Science ◽  
Powerful Strategy ◽  
Rare Instance ◽  
Chemical Mediators

In the famous debate whether neurons communicate via chemical mediators or electrical signals, Henry Dale and Otto Loewi mounted powerful evidence on the mediation of nervous activity by chemical transmitters, while John Eccles led the campaign for the electrophysiologists. Eventually, Eccles converted to chemical transmission, when he identified excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials initiated by the release of chemical neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft. This well-known episode from the history of neurophysiology counts as a rare instance of philosophy of science advancing scientific research, because the philosopher Karl Popper had encouraged Eccles to theorize an experiment proving the falsity of his own interpretation – according to Popper’s philosophy of science progressing by falsification. The paper shows how Eccles’ intellectual mobilization was grounded in a series of geographical moves, technological adaptations and re-arrangements of his group. This massive travel of people, ideas, instruments, and techniques mediated between the contradictory views, long before Popper kindled Eccles to reflect about the conflicting paradigms and the new theorizing did hardly change his experimental practice. Popper’s immediate effect was a critical and reflexive distance that enabled Eccles to present his evidence more persuasively, as can be shown from archival sources. The exchanges between Eccles and Popper thus shaped the philosophy of falsification to a powerful strategy for writing science.

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