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Duhem in different contexts: Comments on Brenner and Martin

Abstract

These comments consist of reflections on the papers Anastasios Brenner and R. N. D. Martin presented at the Conference on Pierre Duhem: Historian and Philosopher of Science. I argue they present nicely complementary accounts of Duhem's turn to history of science: Brenner emphasizes reasons internal to Duhem's philosophical concern with scientific methodology while Martin highlights reasons derived from the broader context of Duhem's engagement with religious controversies of his culture. I go on to suggest that seeing Duhem in this broader perspective can help us cope with the conflicts between science and religion in our own culture.

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Quinn, P.L. Duhem in different contexts: Comments on Brenner and Martin. Synthese 83, 357–362 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00413421

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00413421

Keywords

  • Broad Context
  • Broad Perspective
  • Scientific Methodology
  • Philosophical Concern
  • Complementary Account