| Description |
Theories of disease are unique from many other scientific theories due to their applicability. Society is not typically impacted by novel theories of physics for example, but does feel the influence of shifting theories of disease. Competition between theories of disease creates pragmatic concern, as these theories can have a tangible impact on society. This tension was felt most acutely in the revolutionary transition between two dominant theories of disease: Miasma theory and Germ theory. While Miasma theory is now considered obsolete by the scientific community at large, it is not clear how the transition between the two theories occurred. In this thesis, I examine the theory change between Miasma theory and Germ theory through the philosophical lenses of theory values, Kuhnian paradigm shifting, Popperian falsification, and a Bayesian measure of explanatory power. Through this analysis, I characterize the historical case and identify points of conflict between this case and the traditional philosophical accounts of theory change referenced. Ultimately, I argue that the theory change between Miasma and Germ theory is the result of the transition of medicine from an art to a science and furthermore, is indicative of a larger shift in values for science as a whole. |
