AUTONOMY VERSUS DEVELOPMENT: DUHEM ON PROGRESS IN SCIENCE

Abstract

For Pierre Duhem, it was not just a question of personal delight or ambition that in addition to his work as physicist he also engaged in extensive studies in philosophy and history of science.1 The integration of these diverse studies was intended to yield a better understanding of science, which, in turn, should orient the research activity of the scientist toward progress more effectively2 and provide a better method of introducing students to science.