Geneza teorii naukowych

The system of scientific knowledge consists of active elements that are implicit definitions of concepts (Poincaré's principles, Lakatos' hard core), and passive elements (empirical laws, protective belt), formulated in the efforts to apply conceptual system to the world. The cognitive status of a statement can be reversed: definitions can be used as factual propositions and what was once factual can became definition. This reversibility rationally explains the mechanism of scientific revolutions as it is illustrated for the revolution that began with Buridan and resulted in Newton's mechanics. Statements of impetus theory, that once belonged to protective belt of Aristotelian physics, were transformed into the hard core of Newtonian physics.