La physique laplacienne dans la seconde moitié du XIXe siècle: Joseph Boussinesq – la pratique et la réflexion autour de l’atomisme en France vers 1875

Abstract

Abstract : Joseph Boussinesq is one of the most distinguished French scholars that, during the second half of the nineteenth century, develops the Laplacian program of molecular physics. He has made important contributions to the theories of aether, elasticity and hydrodynamics and also wrote on the philosophy of science. I analyze some of the different functions of the atomic assumptions in the theories of laplacian molecular physics. Then I show how Boussinesq assigned a central role to the notion point atoms in his scientific work and in his philosophical reflections, which concern the method and theory of knowledge. This case study is connected with a critical appraisal of some recent literature on empiricist biased philosophy and history of science.