ABSTRACT

In his contribution to the present book, Hasok Chang extends a project initiated in several of his recent publications (Chang, 2011a, 2012): to build a broad-ranging and operative framework for the analysis of scientifi c practices. The framework has a broad scope: It is intended to apply to any scientifi c practice, whatever the scale and whatever the fi eld. The framework is operative, in the sense that it helps to analyze and reveal previously unnoticed important features of these diverse practices. 1 In the present commentary, we fi rst briefl y reconstruct Chang’s reading of the practice turnwhat lessons can be drawn from this turn, and what remains to do now, according to Chang as we understood him. Next, a brief overview of the main pieces of Chang’s framework is offered. Subsequently, some general diffi culties of any project of activity-based analysis of science are emphasized. Finally, some aspects of Chang’s particular proposals are discussed. The discussion is more especially focused on the nature and place of aims in Chang’s account.