Science 240, Fall 1998

Short paper #3

Kuhn and McClintock: Paradigms and revolutions in genetics

Due: Friday, 20 November

Reminder: Late papers are penalized

Assignment:

The McClintock case is sometimes seen as exemplifying the type of revolutionary change envisioned in Kuhn's philosophy of science. Write a paper in which you use this case (as portrayed by Keller) as a test case for a Kuhnian view of science and his incommensurability thesis. Your paper should answer the following two questions and it should provide detailed arguments in support of those answers. Cite supporting material from the Keller book supplying appropriate references.

1. To what extent does Kuhn's concept of different scientific paradigms apply and illuminate the McClintock story? Are the Mendelian and molecular paradigms distinct from one another and from McClintock's paradigm? To what extent does the eventual acceptance of McClintock's work represent the replacement of one paradigm with another?
2. To what extent does Kuhn's incommensurability thesis apply and/or illuminate the McClintock story? Discuss the existence and impact of factors like differing definitions of terms like "gene" and "chromosome", perceptual shifts, and so on, on the delayed acceptance of McClintock's work. To what extent did factors other than incommensurability play a role in delaying acceptance of McClintock's work? For example, how might a realist explain this delayed acceptance, and would such an explanation be better than a Kuhnian one?

You may want to use your answers to argue that Kuhn's conception of science is not adequate in one or more ways, or you may want to argue that McClintock's case illustrates just how adequate it is. In either case, you should show that you are sensitive to and understand some possible objections to your own view. Your paper should focus on philosophically important and/or interesting features of the case. Try not to get distracted by the biological details, fascinating though they are.

Paper Length:

3-4 typewritten, double-spaced pages.

Grading Criteria:

An "A" paper must do well with respect to all these criteria.

1. Is there a clear and identifiable thesis in the introduction which the paper as a whole supports?
2. Does the paper show a good understanding of the relevant lectures and readings?
3. Does the paper successfully identify the obvious and important applications of the lectures and readings to the McClintock case?
4. Does the author of the paper support his/her claims with concrete details and arguments? Remember that the paper is not a descriptive report, but is primarily a critical analysis. Don't try to cover every little detail in the book. Focus on interesting, important ideas, and develop them in depth and detail.
5. Does the author of the paper discuss and address some possible objections to her/his position? Good philosophy papers defend a thesis by giving positive arguments for the thesis, and by addressing some possible objections to the thesis.
6. Does the paper show some insight and creativity? That is, is there a genuine effort to delve deeply into the issues, rather than being satisfied with superficial platitudes?
7. Does the author use good writing techniques and grammar? E.g, use only complete sentences, give the paper a clear logical structure, make logical connections between ideas and paragraphs, etc.