Using Meta-Scientific Studies to Clarify or Resolve Questions in the Philosophy and History of Science

More powerful methods for studying and integrating the historical track record of scientific episodes and scientific judgment, or what Faust and Meehl describe as a program of meta-science and meta-scientific studies, can supplement and extend more commonly used case study methods. We describe the basic premises of meta-science, overview methodological considerations, and provide examples of meta-scientific studies. Meta-science can help to clarify or resolve long-standing questions in the history and philosophy of science and provide practical help to the working scientist.