Starting from the second half of the twentieth
century, there has been a rising interest, in modern scientific theories, about
the notion of emergence. Its compatibility and explanatory power with theories
that involve the study of complexity and nonlinear systems are expressed in
many recent works in the field of philosophy of science. These works showcase
an ongoing debate about emergence and reductionism, and despite the divergences
of the definitions and the approaches regarding emergence, it is very often
connected with the notions of non-predictability, complexity and contingency.
Focusing on the later one, we will argue about the connection of emergence and
contingency by focusing on three modern scientific theories that make strong
cases for emergence. Starting with Chaos Theory in Mathematics, we have strong
cases of the emergence of physical properties, as a result of non-infinite
precision in calculating a system’s initial conditions. In Evolutionary
Biology, we have the theory of Punctuated Equilibrium and Stephen Gould’s
approach to the occurrence of species extinctions, and in History of Science,
Cushing’s theory for the role of Historical Contingency in theory selection in
science, that showcase the connection between contingency and emergence. Based
on this analysis, we propose the enrichment of the discussion concerning the
Nature of Science (NoS) with the aspects of emergence and contingency embodied in modern scientific theories, highlighting
their contribution to an educational environment that values the NoS.
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