title: From experimental systems to evolutionary biology: an impossible journey?
abstract: The historical approach to the sciences has undergone a sea change during recent decades. Maybe the major contribution of Hans-Jörg Rheinberger to this movement was his demonstration of the importance of experimental systems, and of their transformations, in the development of the sciences. To describe these transformations, Hans-Jörg borrows metaphors from evolutionary biology. I want to argue that evolutionary biologists can find in these recent historical studies plenty of models and concepts to address unresolved issues in their discipline. At a time when transdisciplinarity is highly praised, it is useful to provide a precise description of the obstacles that have so far prevented this exchange.
authors.affiliation: Centre Cavailles, USR CIRPHLES 3308 Ecole normale supdrieure 29 rue d'Ulm, 75230 Paris Cedex 05, France. morange@biologie.ens.fr
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morange
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D001695:Biology / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D019359:Knowledge