The Seven Sisters: Subgenres of Bioi of Contemporary Life Scientists

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Seven Sisters

T2 - Subgenres of Bioi of Contemporary Life Scientists

AU - Söderqvist, Thomas

PY - 2011/11

Y1 - 2011/11

N2 - Today, scientific biography is primarily thought of as a way of writing contextual history of science. But the genre has other functions as well. This article discusses seven kinds of ideal-typical subgenres of scientific biography. In addition to its mainstream function as an ancilla historiae, it is also frequently used to enrich the understanding of the individual construction of scientific knowledge, to promote the public engagement with science, and as a substitute for belles-lettres. Currently less acknowledged kinds of scientific biography include its use as a medium for public and private, respectively, commemoration. Finally, the use of scientific biography as a research (virtue) ethical genre, providing examples of 'the good life in science', is emphasized.

AB - Today, scientific biography is primarily thought of as a way of writing contextual history of science. But the genre has other functions as well. This article discusses seven kinds of ideal-typical subgenres of scientific biography. In addition to its mainstream function as an ancilla historiae, it is also frequently used to enrich the understanding of the individual construction of scientific knowledge, to promote the public engagement with science, and as a substitute for belles-lettres. Currently less acknowledged kinds of scientific biography include its use as a medium for public and private, respectively, commemoration. Finally, the use of scientific biography as a research (virtue) ethical genre, providing examples of 'the good life in science', is emphasized.

U2 - 10.1007/s10739-011-9272-x

DO - 10.1007/s10739-011-9272-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21390526

SN - 0022-5010

VL - 44

SP - 633

EP - 650

JO - Journal of the History of Biology

JF - Journal of the History of Biology

IS - 4

ER -