Holism a century ago

the elaboration of Duhem's thesis

Anastasios Brenner

pp. 325-335

in: Synthese 83 (3), 1990.

Abstract

Duhem first expounds the holistic thesis, according to which an experimental test always involves several hypotheses, in articles dating from the 1890s. Poincaré's analysis of a recent experiment in optics provides the incentive, but Duhem generalizes this analysis and develops a highly original methodological position. He is led to reject inductivism. I will endeavor to show the crucial role history of science comes to play in the development of Duhem's holism.

Cited authors

Duhem Pierre