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Pierre Duhem ~ (1861-1916)
Born in Paris, France with a loving mother and four siblings. His true brilliance was discovered at the young age of 11. He had the traits of a true philosopher; he argued the theories of many great scholars before him. One to note is Mercellin Bertholot. He disproved Bertholot's theory regarding electrochemical cells on his first doctoral thesis in 1884 (Darling, K. Pierre Duhem’s Philosophy of Science). He is said to have created the field of the history of medieval science. -
Pierre Duhem ~ (1861-1916)
It was now that Duhem shifted his focus in the field of hydrodynamics and elasticity. Greatly overlooked, his theory regarded the study of waves in certain media (Darling, K. Pierre Duhem’s Philosophy of Science). The scientific structure of realism was the practice at hand; Duhem was fascinated in the realm of questioning what is right, and why it is done right. -
Pierre Duhem ~ (1861-1916)
His publishing’s such as "Traite de mechanique chimique" (1897-1899) and "Thertnodynamique et chime" (1902) quickly became teaching texts in the subject of chemical thermodynamics. This outbreaking work was the first in history to provide an accurate definition of the reversible process within thermodynamics. Due to the visibility and geological location of his work, he was able to begin translating work of other theoretical philosophers work such as J. W. Gibbs and Phillip P. Weiner. -
Pierre Duhem ~ (1861-1916)
This short video elaborates on his achievements as a philosopher and what he has contributed to the field of his studies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51VnhozqUNg -
Pierre Duhem ~ (1861-1916)
Duhem's death. Although some of his work was left unpublished, his ability to criticize the positivist conception of science with arguments that rely on the role of theory continues today. He was often described as a philosopher with an "antirealist" characteristics and is referenced many works of today’s philosophers. -
Pierre Duhem ~ (1861-1916)
Due to Duhem's impact in this field, other scholars such as Karl Popper, who, in "The Logic of Scientific Discovery and Conjectures and Refutations", attributed to Duhem an antirealist view of physical theory. Karl Popper is a philosopher of noted focus in this course; whose work was attributed to Duhem and his theories. He stated he was an instrumentalist philosopher of science.