Representational Frameworks and Conceptual Change in the Science of Heat: The Contributions of James Thomson to the Diagrammatic Approach of Critical Points
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48160/18532330me16.421Palavras-chave:
critical points, diagrams, representation, heuristics, conceptual changesResumo
Scientific concepts are not static entities; rather, they evolve under the influence of forces such as experimental discoveries, ontological debates, and the heuristic power of representational structures. This article explores the role of representation in thermodynamics, especially in James Thomson’s analysis of the critical points discovered by Thomas Andrews. We argue that, although Thomson took advantage of the heuristic resources of diagrams to introduce crucial notions such as instability, his analysis of critical points does not converge on an operational definition, as is the case in Gibbs’ approach. Following this path, it is possible to trace the evolution of the concept of the state of substances in the science of heat. Finally, we situate Gibbs’ work within a methodological tradition that values the representational elements of science, illustrating how representational choices fundamentally shape scientific concepts and problemsolving algorithms.
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