William Goodwin - Kuhn’s Speciation Metaphor and the Birth of Biochemistry
William Goodwin (University of South Florida)

September 23, 2025, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
The Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh

1117 Cathedral of Learning - 11th Floor
University of Pittsburgh, 4200 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh 15260
United States

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University of Pittsburgh

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The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our Lunch Time Talk. Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.

LTT:  William Goodwin

Friday, September 23rd  @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Title: Kuhn’s Speciation Metaphor and the Birth of Biochemistry

Abstract: 

Biochemistry is an intersectional field: it, “arose by division and recombination of specialties already matured.”  This means that standard Kuhnian models of discipline formation cannot be expected to apply in the case of biochemistry.  Kuhn’s later account of discipline formation is by analogy to acts of evolutionary speciation, with ‘incommensurability’ playing the role of an isolating mechanism.  Since ‘incommensurability’ seems to play no role in the formation of biochemistry, this paper attempts to generalize and extend Kuhn’s speciation analogy thus making a considerably more interesting and plausible general account of discipline formation and eliminating any essential appeal to ‘incommensurability’ in that account.

This talk will be available online:

Zoom: https://pitt.zoom.us/j/93124340892


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg

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