[The discovery of blood circulation: revolution or revision?].
The discovery of the principle of blood circulation by William Harvey is generally considered as one of the major events of the "scientific revolution" of the 17th century. This paper reconsiders the question by taking in account the way Harvey's discovery was discussed by some contemporary philosophers and physicians, in particular Fontenelle, who insisted on the necessity of redefining methods and principles of medical knowledge, basing themselves on the revival of anatomy and physiology, and of its consequences on the way it permits to think about the human nature. This return allows us to consider the opportunity of substituting the kuhnian scheme of "structure of scientific revolutions" for the bachelardian concept of "refonte".
L'Université de Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) - ANR JCJC 0145-01, UFR de Philosophie et Sociologie, 1 rue Victor-Cousin, F-75005 Paris. claire.crignon@paris-sorbonne.fr
Claire
C
Crignon
D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004739:England; D005602:France; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D010686:Philosophy, Medical / Q000266:history*