Reassessing Discovery: Rosalind Franklin, Scientific Visualization, and the Structure of DNA

Philosophers have traditionally conceived of discovery in terms of internal cognitive acts. Close consideration of Rosalind Franklin’s role in the discovery of the DNA double helix, however, reveals some problems with this traditional conception. This article argues that defining discovery in terms...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhilosophy of science Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 63 - 80
Main Author Gibbons, Michelle G.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chicago, IL University of Chicago Press 01.01.2012
Cambridge University Press
Subjects
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Creeks
Crystal structure
Crystallography
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
Epistemology. Philosophy of science. Theory of knowledge
Franklin, Rosalind Elsie
Franklin, Rosalind Elsie (1920-58)
Philosophers
Philosophical analysis
Philosophical psychology
Philosophy
Rationality
Scientific discoveries
Sexism
Visual communication
X ray diffraction
Science philosophy
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Summary:Philosophers have traditionally conceived of discovery in terms of internal cognitive acts. Close consideration of Rosalind Franklin’s role in the discovery of the DNA double helix, however, reveals some problems with this traditional conception. This article argues that defining discovery in terms of mental operations entails problematic conclusions and excludes acts that should fall within the domain of discovery. It proposes that discovery be expanded to include external acts of making visible. Doing so allows for a reevaluation of Franklin’s role in the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ISSN:0031-8248
1539-767X
DOI:10.1086/663241