Reflections on Chimisso: French Philosophy of Science and the Historical Method

Abstract

Over the past several years there has emerged a collective and conscious effort aiming to understand the history of philosophy of science. This has led to the renewed examination of the Vienna Circle and logical positivism, which is considered as one of the main sources of philosophy of science in the English-speaking world. Yet there have also been attempts to explore the development of other schools of thought. A study of the French tradition raises several questions, in particular the reception of this tradition and its salient recourse to a historical approach. Attention has turned from the well-known Bachelardian school to earlier philosophers.