Epistemology of a Believer: Making Sense of Duhem’s Anti-Atomism

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Can’t use the file because of accessibility barriers? Contact us with the title of the item, permanent link, and specifics of your accommodation need.

Date

2012

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Pierre Duhem's (1861–1916) lifelong opposition to 19th century atomic theories of matter has been traditionally attributed to his conventionalist and/or positivist philosophy of science. Relatively recently, this traditional view position has been challenged by the claim that Duhem's opposition to atomism was due to the precarious state of atomic theories during the beginning of the 20th century. In this paper I present some of the difficulties with both the traditional and the new interpretation of Duhem's opposition to atomism and provide a new framework in which to understand his rejection of atomic hypotheses. I argue that although not positivist, instrumentalist, or conventionalist, Duhem's philosophy of physics was not compatible with belief in unobservable atoms and molecules. The key for understanding Duhem's resistance to atomism during the final phase of his career is the historicist arguments he presented in support of his ideal of physics.

Description

Keywords

modern, atomism, philosophy, history, chemistry, understanding Duhem's opposition to atomism in his context

Citation

Journal

Link(s) to data and video for this item

Downstream publication: Coko, Klodian. (2015) "Epistemology of a believing historian: Making sense of Duhem's anti-atomism." Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, Special Issue 50 Integrated History and Philosophy of Science in Practice, 71-82.

Relation

Rights

Type

Collections