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Born June 10th, 1861 in Paris, France
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Professor of theoretical physics at the University of Bordeaux
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While still a student at Ecole Normale, Duhem published his first of voluminous articles. “Commentaire aux principes de la thermodynamique” Journal de mathématiques pures et appliquées 8: (1892): 269; 9: (1893):293; 10 (1893): 207.
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Pierre requested a move from Rennes to Paris, however Berthelot had the move blocked so that Duhem could not further elaborate how Berthelot's thesis was incorrect.
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Twenty years prior, Berthelot published his thesis on thermodynamic potential in physics. Berthelot influenced scientists around him to reject the thesis of Duhem, even though Duhem's thesis proved to be correct in the long run.
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Pierre Duhem taught hydrodynamics, elasticity and acoustics during his tenure at Lille. He continued to teach here until 1893.
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Duhem went on to publish a second thesis on magnetism, however he still suffered consequences from the backlash and unjust rejection headed up by Berthelot
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While teaching at Lille, he married Adèle Chayet. She died two years later while giving birth to their second child. His second daughter also died.
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Duhem became a member of Académie des Sciences (Science Academy). Duhem once again requested a move to Paris, but it again was rejected thanks to the influences of Berthelot.
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Pierre's most important work on Philosophy. This book was the result of Duhem having fervent debates on multiple aspects of philosophy of science. La théorie physique: Son objet – sa structure, 2nd ed. Paris: Marcel Rivière & Cie, 1906; reprinted Paris: Vrin, 1981.
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Cowritten with Stanley Jaki, this publication questions and critiques Greek thought, Arabic science, medieval Christian scholasticism, and, finally, the astronomers of the Renaissance ΣΩZEIN TA ΦAINOMENA: Essai sur la notion de théorie physique de Platon à Galilée. Paris: A. Hermann et Fils, 1908. Translated by Edmund Doland and Chaninah Maschler as To Save the Phenomena: An Essay on the Idea of Physical Theory from Plato to Galileo. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1969.
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Although Pierre Duhem felt that here was not much scientific work achieved in the middle ages, Duhem worked with Joranus Nemorarius and other scientists to study the development of Renaissance mechanics from 1913. Reprint and Translation: Duhem, Pierre. Etudes Sur Leonard De Vinci. Editions Des Archives Contemporaines, 1984.
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Duhem worked on this publication from 1913 until the time of his death, although he only completed 2 of 5 volumes. Medieval Cosmology: Theories of Infinity, Place, Time, Void, and the Plurality of Worlds. Edited and translated by Roger Ariew. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985. Abridged English translation of parts of Le Système du Monde.
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Died September 14th, 1916 in Cabrespine, France. Cabrespine honored the work of Duhem by placing him to rest at the center stone tomb in the town's cemetery. The impacts of his life and studies are still felt today, which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvrMfQslyUI
