Hacking’s Styles of Scientific Reasoning

In this chapter, I examine Ian HackingHacking, Ian’s theory of stylesstyle of scientific reasoning and its implications for the merging of philosophical and historical perspectives on the study of science. Hacking’s styles project, initiated in 1982 and lasting over three decades, developed a concept of scientific styles intended to explain the historical and contextual aspects of scientific knowledge and practice, while also acknowledging its objective and progressive features. Special focus on Hacking’s conception of epistemological styles is warranted by both the influence of his theory on contemporary historical epistemologists and by the ways his theory draws simultaneously from Analytical and Continental conceptual frameworks. The chapter highlights the Foucauldian underpinnings of Hacking’s notion of styles of reasoning and demonstrates how Hacking also mobilized FoucaultFoucault, Michel to develop his views on language and probability. Clarifying the concept of styles of scientific reasoning will help elucidate some of the features of the historical shift that occurred between the “classical” phase of historical epistemology and the “contemporary” one.