Advances in Physiology Education, Vol 272, Issue 6 31-S35, Copyright © 1997 by American Physiological Society
Philosophy of science and physiology education
R. Refinetti
Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187, USA.
Since the mid-1960s, philosophy of science [particularly that derived from
Kuhn's work (The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University
of Chicago Press, 1962)] has become an informal part of the education of
scientists worldwide, including physiologists. However, recent
postmodernist developments have enraged a number of scientists, who would
like to sever any ties with philosophy of science. The author contends that
the perceived conflict is due mainly to a misunderstanding of the
implications of constructivist assertions and partially to flawed reasoning
in a few constructivist approaches. There is no fundamental conflict that
would justify the elimination of philosophy of science from science
education.
