LIFE, REASON AND HISTORY - READING CANGUILHEM,GEORGES TODAY

This paper outlines some of the central features of the approach to hi storical epistemology developed by Georges Canguilhem and argues for t heir contemporary significance in relation to recent changes in the li fe sciences. It develops this in relation to three lines of enquiry. T he first concerns the specific characteristics of scientific reason. T he second concerns the relations between knowledge of life and life it self. The third concerns the role that historical work on scientific r eason can play within contemporary critical thought. In each area it p roposes some developments of Canguilhem's approach, and illustrates th is with examples from biology, medicine and psychology.