Historiographical Perspectives on Science and Technology

Since its inception, the historiography of science and technology has evolved from a teleological narrative of linear progress to a multifaceted discipline that interrogates the social, cultural and material dimensions of knowledge production. Early accounts framed scientific advancement as cumulative and inevitable, embodying a Whiggish optimism. The mid-20th century saw paradigmatic shifts introduced by the philosophy of science, emphasising discontinuities and the contingent character of theory change. Thomas Kuhn’s conceptualisation of paradigms and revolutions inaugurated a critical awareness of contextual factors, prompting further debate on the roles of present-minded interpretations and retrospective judgements. In recent decades, pluralist and contextualist approaches have contested grand narratives, recovering neglected research traditions and highlighting alternative experimental trajectories. Postmodern and constructive critiques have foregrounded the narrative structures through which scientific and technological pasts are framed, revealing power relations embedded in historiographical practice. Parallel strands in the history of technology draw upon social construction and actor-network theories to illuminate the co-production of artefacts, institutions and epistemic regimes. Together, these perspectives underscore the dynamic interplay between past and present, offering nuanced accounts that inform contemporary policy-making, pedagogical innovation and the reimagination of future research pathways.

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Historiographical Perspectives on Science and Technology publication trend

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Technical terms

Presentism: The interpretation of past events with reference to present knowledge and values.

Paradigm: A conceptual framework and set of practices that defines a scientific community’s worldview.

Contextualism: An approach emphasising that historical events and theories are shaped by their social and material circumstances.

Pluralism: The belief that multiple, sometimes conflicting, narratives are necessary to capture the complexity of scientific and technological histories.

References

1. Presentist History for Pluralist Science. Journal for General Philosophy of Science (2020).
2. History and Reason: The Three Historiographic Paradigms Extracted by Kuhn from Three Scientific Theories. Advances in Historical Studies (2016).
3. KUHN’S PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND THE DEFENSE OF SCIENTIFIC RATIONALITY. The Annals of the University of Bucharest Philosophy Series (2024).