Historical examples of alternative conceptions

A topic in Learners' conceptions and thinking

There are many ideas that have been mooted in the history of science (and, before science was formally recognised, 'natural philosophy') that are no longer used in scientific discourse today (phlogiston, caloric, the luminiferous ether….)

Some of the alternative conceptions listed below might be seen as lay ideas (folk notions) but many were seriously considered by scientists / natural philosophers.

Read about historical scientific conceptions


Some historical examples of notions about the natural world (that would now be considered alternative conceptions)


anatomy and physiology

atoms

caloric

cold

(Cold being considered as an entity in its own right, distinct from heat)


cosmology
elements

ether (æther or luminiferous ether)

read about the luminiferous aether


levity

magnetism

motion

phlogiston

read about phlogiston theory


preformationism

solar system

spontaneous generation of living things


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