The airpump debate reveals the social nature of scientific inquiry from "summary" of Leviathan and the Air-Pump by Steven Shapin,Simon Schaffer
The air-pump debate exemplifies how scientific inquiry is not just a solitary endeavor, but a social process that is deeply intertwined with the values, norms, and power dynamics of society. The dispute between Thomas Hobbes and Robert Boyle over the reliability of the air-pump as a scientific instrument was not merely a clash of ideas, but a reflection of broader societal tensions and interests. Hobbes, a prominent philosopher of his time, was skeptical of the air-pump's ability to produce reliable experimental results. His criticisms were not just based on scientific reasoning, but also on his philosophical views on the nature of knowledge and authority. Boyle, on the other hand, saw the air-pump as a crucial tool for advancing scientific knowledge and promoting the experimental method. His defense of the air-pump was not just about the instrument itself, but about the very foundation of sc...
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