The epistemological obstacle in Electromagnetism

Abstract

In the development of a historical analysis on the natural phenomenon of electromagnetism, recurrently a question appears on the subject: why does it take researchers about 2300 years to decipher, understand and then dominate and apply the electromagnetic phenomenon for the benefit of the human being? To answer this question, the hypothesis about Bacon's “idols” and Bachelard's epistemological obstacle are presented. Both posed very correctly about the theory of knowledge: the limitations or impediments that affect the ability of individuals to build new knowledge. The fascinating interpretations, myths and legends, even the scientific understanding and its technological applications that changed life on earth, have been compiled and analyzed in this article, and in the Torres´s book [18]: “The enigma of Electromagnetism under the magnifying glass"

Keywords

• Electromagnetism
• Paradigm