Abstract

SETUBAL, João Carlos. Disconcertments in science. Rev. bras. psicanál [online]. 2016, vol.50, n.3, pp.145-152. ISSN 0486-641X.

Science advances by discoveries; some of them are radical but most of them merely add to current knowledge. The radical discoveries provoke negative reactions on both scientists and laymen. This paper defines the disconcertment in science as being a negative reaction that is caused by the advent of a new scientific paradigm. About a hundred years ago, Freud compared the discovery of the unconscious to Copernicus's and Darwin's discoveries in order to demonstrate that all those discoveries had inflicted blows to mankind's self-esteem. In other words, according to the herein adopted definition, they had caused disconcertments. The author analyzes Freud's comparison, and brings other examples (of similar disconcertments) from other fields, such as genomics, historical biogeography, and the decipherment of the ancient Mayan writing.

Keywords : scientific revolution; Copernicus; Darwin; Freud; narcissism.

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