Pierre Duhem

Pierre Maurice Marie Duhem (1861–1916) was a French theoretical physicist and philosopher of science. He made significant contributions to thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, and the theory of elasticity. As a historian of science, he is noted for his work on the European Middle Ages, arguing that the medieval Church fostered scientific growth. Duhem's philosophical contributions include the "Duhem–Quine thesis" regarding the indeterminacy of experimental criteria. His opposition to positivism was partly shaped by his traditionalist Catholicism. Duhem also critiqued Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. He held academic positions at the University of Lille, the University of Rennes, and the University of Bordeaux. Despite his accomplishments, he never secured a sought-after academic position in Paris. He received an honorary doctorate from Jagiellonian University and was elected a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences.