-
Born
Born in Paris France. -
College
Left the Collège Stanislas with outstanding achievements in Latin, Greek, science, mathematics and other subjects, he had to choose between studying at the École Polytechnique which, in principle, prepared one to be an engineer, and the École Normale, the more academic of the two. He then continued his studies science at École Normale. -
First Thesis
Duhem published his first thesis "...on thermodynamic potential in physics and chemistry and in it he defined the criterion for chemical reactions in terms of free energy" (O'Connor and Robertson) which was titled "Le potentiel thermodynamique et ses applications à la mécanique chimique et à l’étude des phénomènes électriques". In this he was replacing the incorrect criterion which Marcellin Berthelot had put forward twenty years earlier. -
The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory
Duhem posited three major theses: Instrumentalism, the underdetermination of theories by evidence, and confirmation holism. In this, he disagrees with Newton's theory that universal mutual gravitation comes from phenomena. Stating that Newton's theory clearly goes against Kepler's laws of planetary motion. -
Duhem–Quine Thesis
Also known as Underdetermination, states that any result that is observed will have more than one explanation. "The basic problem is that individual theoretical claims are unable to be confirmed or falsified on their own, in isolation from surrounding hypotheses. For this reason, the acceptance or rejection of a theoretical claim is underdetermined by observation" (Turnbull). -
Death
Died in Cabrespine France.
You are not authorized to access this page.
