Xth EMOP, August 2008

The scientific research programmes of Lakatos and applications in parasitology

¹ INRA, IASP, 213, Parasite Resistance and Virulence Team, 37380 Nouzilly, France
² Laboratorio de Zoonosis Parasitarias, Departamento de Biologia, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CONICET, Funes 3250 (7600) Mar del Plata, Argentina

^* Correspondence: Jacques Cabaret. Fax : 33 (0)2 47 42 77 74 – E-mail: cabaret@tours.inra.fr

Abstract

The methodology of scientific research programme (MSRP) proposed by Lakatos was in the line of the proposals made by Popper. MSRP were intended for constructing and evaluating research programme, which is unique among philosophers of science. Surprisingly, scientists dedicated to research in mathematics, physic or biology have not used much MRSP. This could be due to the fact that scientists are not aware of the existence of MSRP, or they find it difficult to apply to their own investigations. That is why we present firstly the main characteristics of this methodology (hard core – the group of hypothesis that are admitted by experts in the field, auxiliary hypotheses – which are intended to protect and refine the hypotheses of the hard-core, and heuristics for mending and evaluating the MSRP) and, secondly, propose an example in helminthology. We think that the methodology of Lakatos, is a useful tool, but it cannot encompass the large flexibility of investigations pathways.