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a peer-reviewed quarterly journal on literature
E-ISSN 2457-0265
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Erothanatos
Scholarly Article
Barbara Gabriella Renzi
Rethinking Science: From Evolutionary Metaphors to Mirror Reflections in Philosophy
Volume
8
Issue
3
Pages:
1-17
Keywords:
Evolutionary epistemology, scientific change, Popper, Kuhn, Lacanian psychoanalysis.
doi:
Abstract
The main question of this paper is: why have philosophers of science like Popper, Kuhn, and Hull compared the change of science over time to evolutionary theories, invoking evolutionary epistemology? Why do they use the evolutionary metaphor or analogy to describe scientific change? A historian might attribute this to the societal popularity of evolutionary theory during certain periods. However, this exploratory paper approaches the question from a philosophical and psychological perspective. Despite the clear fallacy that human beings intentionally drive changes in scientific theories, whereas evolution lacks intentionality, the evolutionary metaphor has been seriously considered by these philosophers. The application of science and technology has yielded both benefits and significant problems, creating doubts and fears about issues like climate change, atomic bombs, and pollution. Philosophers may have unconsciously sought parallels between science and nature to create a reassuring imaginary, presenting science as a robust "organism" capable of adapting to environmental challenges. Thus, the thesis is twofold: philosophers used the comparison to establish science’s distinct identity and to offer a comforting vision of its resilience.
About the Author
Dr. Barbara Gabriella Renzi is a psychologist and academic with extensive experience across multiple countries, including Italy, Northern Ireland, and Germany. Currently residing in Germany, Dr. Renzi has worked with immigrant communities and in suicide prevention, demonstrating a strong commitment to mental health and social well-being. She holds dual PhDs: one in Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences from Queen’s University Belfast, specializing in cognitive metaphors, and another in Culture, Education, and Communication from Roma Tre University, focusing on mediation in conflict zones and psychological interventions.
Dr. Renzi is a registered member of the Italian Order of Psychologists and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Her diverse career encompasses roles as a lecturer at institutions such as BSBI, Uninettuno, and Freud University. Her notable publications include her highly cited paper “Linguistic analysis of IPCC summaries for policymakers and associated coverage” in Nature Climate Change, and her book Evolutionary Analogies: Is the Process of Scientific Change Analogous to the Organic Change?, co-authored with Giulio Napolitano. Her scholarly contributions on Thomas Kuhn's work have been recognized and cited by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Additionally, she has authored books such as Irlanda del Nord: Conflitto e Educazione and I Volti e le Voci del Conflitto: Sorry for yer Troubles.
Dr. Renzi's writing extends to books aimed at the general public, addressing women's rights and mental health, such as La Cultura è Donna and Il Blu e il Rosso. She also writes for children, with works like Il Pianeta dei Pescibelli and Cinque Avventure Marine, which tackle contemporary issues and mental health in an accessible way. In addition to her academic and writing pursuits, Dr. Renzi is actively involved in multicultural counselling and support, cognitive behavioural therapy, and integrative counselling.
