Réconcilier les sciences et les lettres

The chair Gaston Bachelard held at the Sorbonne has a history of its own. It was founded in 1909 for Gaston Milhaud as « History of philosophy in its relation with science ». How did this specialty come to be established? Taking up his inspiration from Paul Tannery, Milhaud specifies the methods and aims of history of science. The new discipline arose as an attempt to reshape the encyclopedia of the Enlightenment. It was a response to the series of crises that shook the sciences since the mid-19th century. Moreover, history of science benefited from the development and the extension of historical methods. The establishment of a discipline requires public recognition. The work of Auguste Comte and its impact provided an incentive. Given the role ascribed to history of science, one may bring out certain aspects of educational policy at the time. Simultaneously, it was necessary to adapt history of science to a new scientific situation. Abel Rey, Milhaud's successor, took up the task and brought about full recognition for the field, by founding an institute and a journal. One witnesses here the process of constitution of a discipline. By focusing on the figures of Tannery, Milhaud and Abel Rey, I aim to study the filiation between three generations, so many stages in the development of history of science, from its exercise on the outskirts of academia to its practice within higher education

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