Abstract

LARENTIS, Ariane Leites et al. Epistemological obstacles amongst graduate students in biochemistry. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.2, pp.76-97. ISSN 1806-5821.

Through the study of Bachelard's epistemology in the discipline Logic and Philosophy of Science from the Biochemistry Graduate Program at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the aim of this work was to identify epistemological obstacles amongst graduate students in biochemistry and related areas. A questionnaire containing questions and selected excerpts of scientific papers from high impact factor journals was anonymously answered by graduate students from different courses at UFRJ and other universities, which never attended epistemology classes. It was possible to identify vitalistic conceptions (animism) in the answers and also in the acceptance or not recognition of this obstacle in the excerpts. The unitary and pragmatic obstacle was identified through a teleological approach of the evolution processes, expressed in apologies of immanent purposes in organisms' adaptation. The presence of figures of speech, metaphors and analogies (verbal obstacle) were verified in explaining the evolution and the immune system, also found in the excerpts. Obstacles associated to the first observation and to the premature generalization were also identified. Considering these facts, it is clear the necessity to emphasize the material, non-teleological character of biochemistry, in disciplines offered since under-graduate courses.© Cien. Cogn. 2012; Vol. 17 (2): 076-097.

Keywords : Bachelard; epistemological obstacles; vitalism; teleology; verbalism; empiricism.

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