What is henri duhem?

Henri Duhem was a French scholar and historian of science born in 1860. He dedicated his life to studying the history of science, particularly the development of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Duhem was known for his extensive writings on the history of science, including works such as "The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory" and "La théorie physique: son objet, sa structure."

Duhem was a professor of physics at the University of Lille and later at the Sorbonne in Paris. He was also a member of the Académie des Sciences and the Royal Society of London. Duhem was a devout Catholic and his religious beliefs influenced his views on science and its relationship with faith.

Duhem's most significant contribution to the history of science was his idea of the "saving hypothesis," which proposed that scientists should always strive to find explanations for phenomena that are consistent with existing theories, rather than abandoning them in favor of new theories. This idea has become an important principle of science and is still widely accepted today.

Duhem died in 1916, but his work continues to be influential in the field of history and philosophy of science.