sarton-historians and philosophers of science

"Historians and Philosophers" of ScienceAuthor(s): George SartonSource: Isis, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Dec., 1955), pp. 360-366Published by: The University of Chicago Press on behalf of The History of Science SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/227579 .Accessed: 09/10/2014 12:40

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360 LYNN THORNDIKE

(i Igrb) Sequitur de terre motu et primo que sit causa eius, secundo quibus locis et temporibus fiat, tertio quot numero (modis?), quarto quantum durat (iigvb) Sequitur de tonitruo et coruscatione, de fulmine et turbine (I2ira) Yris est arcus celestis et dicitur arcus varius propter varietatem colorum (I22ra) Post predicta dicendum de hiis que generantur ex vapore incluso in ventre terre, ut de lapidibus et metallis. Et primo de generatione lapidum et etiam montium quia in quibusdam montibus generantur lapides (I22va) Corpora mineralia secundum Aristotelem dividuntur in quatuor species, scilicet in lapides, sulphurea, sales, et liquefactiva (I23rb) . . . Possunt enim tingere rubeum citrino ut videatur aurum et ab- stringere plumbi immunditias ut appareat argentum, verumptamen semper erit plumbum. Et hoc de impressionibus sufficiant [sic]. Expliciunt notabilia super quartum librum Metheororum.

I also examined Balliol College MS 93 of "Questiones super tres libros Metheororum secundum Scotum doctorem subtilem," 7 and found only slight differences between their wording and that of the printed edition.

I Those on the fourth book come first at fols. g6ra-Io7ra, and those on books I-III follow at fols. Io8ra-I48va, so that what seems the clos- ing statement at fol. I48va, "Expliciunt questiones super tres libros metheororum secundum Scotum doctorem subtilem," is misleading.

The Expositio by Walter Burley at fols. givb-g6ra is a very brief commentary on the four books and discusses no questions: "Ex- plicit expositio magistri Walteri Burley super quatuor libros Metheororum secundum litteram, brevis et utilis."

''Historians and Philosophers"

of Sclence Biographies Available in Isis (I-45) & Osiris (i-II)

By George Sarton *

T HIS list may be useful to our readers because the best way of illustrating our studies is to explain the work done by our predecessors. The biog-

raphies listed vary considerably in size and scope; some include a bibliography and portrait, others do not.

The men whose biographies were published in Isis or Osiris are primarily historians of science; a few are primarily philosophers (e.g., Comte, Harrison, Spencer); a few others are men of science who showed a deep interest in our studies (e.g., Brunhes, Hale).

The selection is accidental and arbitrary and the reader will soon discover that some of the leaders are missing (e.g., Cantor, Sudhoff, Zeuthen). This is a challenge and an invitation to competent scholars.

I am confident that the new editor of Isis will welcome other biographies of * Harvard University (Cambridge 38, Mass., U.S.A.).

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"cHISTORIANS & PHILOSOPHERS"' OF SCIENCE 36I

science historians and publish them, if they are adequate and do not take too much space.

The history and philosophy of science is a field of enormous size and com- plexity and the scholars devoting themselves to it must restrict their efforts to a small part of it. As they become masters of their part of the field, they become highly competent to criticize and evaluate the work done by their predecessors. If they would compose the biography of one or more of them, they would clarify their own knowledge and render a great service to their own disciples and followers. The writing and publication of such biographies is an excellent method for the strengthening of our own tradition.

It is the policy of the Archives internationales d'histoire des sciences to publish as fast as possible obituaries of the historians who were members of our Academy. The obituaries, like the articles in Isis, vary in size and quality. Nevertheless, a full list of them would be a boon to every student. Let us hope that it will soon be available, or rather that the Academy will finally publish a Catalogue raisonne of all its members, past and present, with brief but signifi- cant information about each of them and references to longer biographies.'

From volume I2 on, Osiris will be edited by the Rev. Canon Adolphe Rome and the Abbe Joseph Mogenet, both of the University of Louvain.2 It will be concerned almost exclusively with ancient, mediaeval and oriental science, but the new editors have agreed with me that the policy of dedicating each volume to a Science Historian or Philosopher will be continued. Thus, each volume will contain the biography, bibliography and portrait of a distinguished historian, and the whole series will constitute propylaea to the defense, illustration and history of our discipline, the History of Science.

Much information concerning historians of science of the end of last century is available in the M!moires scientifiques de Paul Tannery (vols. I3 to I7, Toulouse, Edouard Privat, 1934-50) .3

My own collection of such biographies, relative most of them to our con- temporaries, has been bound in six volumes, which may be consulted in the Widener Library, room I89. More are kept in spring binders to be bound together eventually.

G^-0

This is a revision and amplification of a smaller list "Materials for the history of the history of science" (Isis 27, 6-8) which extended only to I936 and to 29 biographies.

'See Actes du Septieme Congris d'Histoire des Sciences, Jerusalem, Aotft '953, p. 85-86. The third and latest list of members of the Acad6mie appeared in 1936; it is twenty

years old and almost entirely out-of-date. ' See Preface to Osinrs Xl, I3954 ' G. Sarton: La correspondance de Paul

Tannery et l'histoire de nos 6tudes (Revue d'histoire des sciences, 7, 321-25, 1954).


362 GEORGE SARTON

In the following list, the word mathematics generalh, means history of mathematics, science, history of science, etc. An asterisk indicates a portrait.

i. Ball, Walter William Rouse (i850-I925), mathematics, by Florian Cajori (Isis 8, 32I-24, I926).*

2. Barry, Frederick (I876-I943), science, by Lynn Thorndike (Isis 34, 339-40,I943).

3. Bergstraesser, Gotthelf (I886-I933), Arabic science, by Max Meyerhof (Isis 25, 60-62, I936).*

4. Berr, Henri (I863-I954), philosophy of history, history of thought, by Suzanne Delorme (Osiris IO, 5-9, I950).* Vol. I0 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

5. Berry, Arthur (I862-I929), astronomy, by George Sarton (Isis 28, 4I9- 20, I938).*

6. Berthelot, Marcelin (I827-I907), chemistry, by E. J. Holmyard (Isis 6, 479-99,I924).

7. Bidez, Joseph (I867-I945), Greek science (Osiris 6, v-ix, 1939).* Vol. 6 is dedicated to him. Only bibliography and portrait.

8. Bosmans, Henri (I852-I928), mathematics, by Adolphe Rome (Isis Z2, 88-iI2,I929).

By George Sarton (Isis 40, 3-5, I949). 9. Breasted, James Henry (I865-I935), Egyptian science, by George Sarton

(Isis 34, 289-91, I943).* io. Brett, George Sidney (I879-I944), psychology, by Harcourt Brown (Isis

36, II0-I4,I946).* ii. Brunhes, Edmond (I834-I9I6), mathematics, by Frere Garnier (Isis 42,

234-37,I95I). I2. Burr, George Lincoln (I857-I938), history of thought, by Henry Guerlac

(Isis 35, I47-52, I944).* I3. Cajori, Florian (I859-I930), mathematics and physics, by R. C. Archi-

bald (Isis I7, 384-407, I932).* I4. Chasles, Michel (I793-I880), geometry, by Gino Loria (Osiris I, 42I-50,

I936).*

I5. Comte, Auguste (I798-I857), history and philosophy of science, by George Sarton (Osiris 10, 328-57, I950).

I6. Crew, Henry (I859-I953), physics, by A. A. Knowlton (Isis 45, I69-74, I954).*

I7. Dorveaux, Paul (I85I-I938), pharmacy, by Max Speter (Isis 30, 46-51, I939) .*

i8. Dreyer, John Louis Emil (I852-I926), astronomy, chiefly Tycho Brahe, by R. A. Sampson and Frederick E. Brasch (Isis 2I, I3I-44, I934).*


"HISTORIANS & PHILOSOPHERS" OF SCIENCE 363

I9. Enestrom, Gustav (I852-I923), mathematics, by G. Sarton (Isis 5, 42I),* by W. Lorey (Isis 8, 3I3-20, I926).*

20. Favaro, Antonio (I847-I922), physics, chiefly Galileo, by G. Gabrieli

(Isis 7, 456-67, I925).* 2I. Ferguson, John (I837-I9I6), chemistry, by George Sarton (Isis 39,

6o-6i,I948).*

22. Fotheringham, John Knight (I874-I936), ancient astronomy, by R. A. Sampson (Isis 27, 485-92, I937).*

Bibliography by A. Pogo (Isis 29, 58-68, I938). (ii) Gabriel-Marie, Frere (I834-I9I6). See Brunhes. 23. Gudger, Eugene Willis (i866- ), ichthyology, by George Sarton (Isis

42, 237-42, I95I). Bibliography only.

24. Hale, George Ellery (I868-I938), astronomy, by F. H. Seares (Isis 30, 24i-67,I939).*

25. Halliwell, James Orchard (I82o-89), science, by H. W. Dickinson (Isis I8,I27-32,I932).

26. Harrison, Frederic (I83I-I923), philosophy, by F. S. Marvin (Isis 6, 387-90,I924).

27. Haskins, Charles Homer (I870-I937), mediaeval science, by Lynn Thorn- dike (Isis 28, 53-56, I938).*

28. Heath, Sir Thomas Little (I86I-I940), Greek mathematics and astronomy, by D. E. Smith (Osiris 2,v-xxvii,1936).* Vol. 2 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

29. Heiberg, Johan Ludvig (I854-I928), Greek science, by Hans Raeder (Isis II, 367-74, I928).*

30. Hoppe, Edmund (I854-I928), physics, by L. Rosenfeld (Isis 13, 45-50, I929).*

3I. Houssay, Frederic (I860-I920), biology, by Louis Bounoure (Isis 7, 433-55,I925).*

32. Humboldt, Alexander v. (I769-I859), science, by C. A. Browne (Isis 35, I34-39,I944).

By V. W. v. Hagen (Isis 41, I 64-68, I950).

33. Irsay, Stephen d' (I894-I934), history of universities, by Henry R. Viets (Isis 24, 370-74, I936).

34. Johnsson, John William Schibbye (I868-I929), medicine, by Axel Hansen (Isis 13,320-24, I930).*

35. Jourdain, Philip E. B. (I879-I9I9), mathematics and logic, by Laura Jourdain (Isis 5, I26-36, I923).*

36. Kopp, Hermann (I8I7-92), chemistry, by Max Speter (Osiris 5, 392-460, I938).*

37. Lewes, George Henry (I8I7-78), science, by R. E. Ockenden (Isis 32, 70-86,I940,I947).*


364 GEORGE SARTON

38. Lippmann, Edmund 0. v. (I857-I940), chemistry, by J. R. Partington (Osiris 3, 3-2I, I937).* Vol. 3 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

39. Littre, Emile (i8oi-8i), Greek medicine, by Leon Guinet (Isis 8, 77-Io2, I926).*

40. Loria, Gino (I862-I954), mathematics, by R. C. Archibald (Osiris 7, 5-30, I939).* Vol. 7 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

4I. Malinowski, Bronislaw (i884-I942), anthropology, by M. F. Ashley Montagu (Isis 34, I46-50, I942).

42. Marvin, Francis Sidney (i863-I943), history of thought, by Cecil H. Desh (Isis 36, 7-9, I945).*

43. Murray, Gilbert (i866- ), Greek poetry, by George Sarton (Isis 38, 3- I, I947).*

44. Mieli, Aldo (I879-I950), science, by George Sarton (Isis 41, 57, I950).* Only portrait and short note.

45. Meyerhof, Max (i874-I945), Arabic medicine, by Joseph Schacht (Osiris 9, 7-32, I948).* Vol. 9 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

45a. Mikami Yoshio (i875-I950), Japanese mathematics (Isis 42, I44, 49, 1951) byY.Hirata.

46. Milhaud, Gaston (I858-I9I8), history and philosophy of science, by Edmond Goblot (Isis 3, 39I-95, I92 I).*

47. Montucla, Jean Etienne (I725-I799), mathematical sciences, by George Sarton (Osiris i, 5 I9-67, I936).*

48. Nordenskiold, Erik (i872-I933), history of biology, by Nils v. Hofsten

(Isis 38, I03-06, I947) .*

48a. Pagel, Julius (I85I-I9I2). Short biography (Isis 42, I44, I951). 49. Pearson, Karl (i857-I936), philosophy of science, by M. F. A. Montagu

(Isis 34, 2 I I-I4, I943). 50. Rignano, Eugenio (i87o-I930), philosophy of science, by George Sarton

(Isis I5, I 58-62, I93 I).* 5i. Ruska, Julius (i867-I949), Arabic alchemy, by Paul Kraus (Osiris 5,

5-40, I938).* Vol. s is dedicated to him.

52. Sarton, George (i844- ), Why Isis? (Isis 44, 232-42, I953); Remi- niscences of a pioneer (Osiris iI, io8-i8, I954).

53. Saussure, Leopold de (i866-i925), Chinese astronomy, by R. de Saussure

(Isis 27, 287-93, I937).* 54. Schoch, Carl (I873-I929), ancient astronomy and chronology, by Alex-

ander Pogo (Isis 15, I63-69, I93 I).* 55. Schoy, Carl (i877-I925), Arabic mathematics and astronomy, by Julius

Ruska (Isis 9, 83-95, I927) .* 56. Smith, David Eugene (i86-i944), mathematics, by Bertha Margaret

Frick (Osiris I, 4-84, I936).* Vol. i of Osiris is dedicated to him. 57. Smith, Edgar Fahs (i854-I928), chemistry, chiefly American, by C. A.

Browne (Isis II, 375-84, I928).*


"HISTORIANS & PHILOSOPHERS" OF SCIENCE 365

58. Spencer, Herbert (I820-I903), philosophy of science, by George Sarton (Isis 3, 375-90, I92 I).*

59. Speter, Max (I883-1942), chemistry, by Mary Elvira Weeks (Isis 34, 340-44,1943).

6o. Steele, Robert (io86i944), mediaeval science, by Dorothea Waley Singer (Isis 38, 107, 1947).

6i. Stillman, John Maxson (I852-1923), chemistry, by F. 0. Koenig (Isis 34, 142-46,1942).*

62. Suter, Heinrich (I848-I922), Arabic mathematics, by Julius Ruska (Isis 5, 409-17, 1923).*

By H. P. J. Renaud (Isis I8, I66-83, 1932). 63. Tannery, Jules (I848-I910), mathematics, by George Sarton (Isis 38,

33-51,1947). 64. Tannery, Marie (I856-I945), history of science, by George Sarton (Isis

38,33-51,1947). By P. Ducasse (Osiris 4, 706-09, 1938). Vol. 4 of Osiris is dedi-

cated to her. 65. Tannery, Paul (I843-1904), science, by George Sarton (Isis 38, 33-51,

1947).

By Pierre Boutroux (Osiris 4,633-705,I938).* Vol. 4 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

66. Thompson, D'Arcy Wentworth (I860-i948), Greek science, by George Sarton (Isis 41, 3-8, 1950).*

67. Thorndike, Lynn (I882- ), mediaeval science, by Dana B. Durand (Isis 33, 691-712, 1942).

Vol. II of Osiris (I954) is dedicated to him. Biography and bibliography by Pearl Kibre (p. 5-22).*

68. Tyler, Harry Walter (I863-1938), mathematical sciences, by R. P. Big- elow (Isis 31, 60-64, 1939).*

69. Vassilieff, Alexandre Vassilievi6 (1855-1929), mathematics, by T. Rainoff (Isis 14,342-48,1930).*

70. Ver Eecke, Paul (I867- ), Greek mathematics, by Paul Pelseneer (Osiris 8, 5-II, 1948) .* Vol. 8 of Osiris is dedicated to him.

7I. Wheeler, William Morton (I865-1937), entomology, by F. M. Carpenter (Isis 28,421-23,1938).*

72. Whittaker, Edmund Taylor (1873- ), physics, by C. D. Hardie (Isis 34, 344-46,1943).

73. Wiedemann, Eilhard (I852-1928), Arabic science, by H. J. Seemann (Isis 14, I66-86,1930).*

74. Wieleitner, Heinrich (I874-1931), mathematics, by Julius Ruska (Isis 18)150-65,I932).

75. Wyrouboff, Gregoire (I843-19I3), science, by George Sarton, (Isis 38, 37-41,50,I947).


366 GEORGE SARTON

Index of the Authors (Numbers refer to the list above, not to pages)

Anonymous, 7, 48a Archibald, R. C., 13, 40

Bigelow, R. P., 68 Bounoure, L., 31 Boutroux, P., 65 Brasch, F. E., i8 Brown, H., IO Browne, C. A., 32, 57

Cajori, F., I Carpenter, F. M., 71

Delorme, S., 4 Desh, C., 42 Dickinson, H. W., 25 Ducasse, P., 64 Durand, D. B., 67

Frick, B. M., 56

Gabrieli, G., 20 Gamier, fr., II Goblot, E., 46 Guerlac, H., I2 Guinet, L., 39

Hansen, A., 34 Hardie, C. D., 72 Hirata, Y., 45a Hofsten, N. v., 48 Holmyard, E. J., 6

Jourdain, L., 35

Kibre, P., 67 Knowlton, A. A., i6 Koenig, F. O., 6i Koyre, A., i6 Kraus, P., 5I

Lorey, W., I9 Loria, G., I4

Marvin, F. S., 26 Meyerhof, M., 3 Montagu, M. F. A., 4I, 49

Ockenden, R. E., 37

Pagel, J., 48a Partington, J. R., 38 Pelseneer, P., 70

Pogo, A., 22, 54

Raeder, H., 29 Rainoff, T., 69 Renaud, H. P. J., 62 Rome, A., 8 Rosenfeld, L., 30 Ruska, J., 55, 62, 74

Sampson, R. A., I8, 22 Sarton, G., 5, 8, 9, I5, I9, 2I, 23,

43, 44, 47, 50, 52, 58, 63, 64, 65, 66, 75

Saussure, R. de, 53 Schacht, J., 45 Seares, F. H., 24 Seemann, H. J., 73 Singer, D. W., 6o Smith, D. E., 28 Speter, M., I3, 36

Thorndike, L., 2, 27

Viets, H. R., 33

Weeks, M. E., 59 Wiener, P. P., i6

http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jspArticle Contentsp.360p.361p.362p.363p.364p.365p.366Issue Table of ContentsIsis, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Dec., 1955), pp. 317-394Volume Information [pp.389-394]Front Matter [pp.317-318]William Harvey and the Pulmonary Circulation [pp.319-327]An Attempt in the United States to Resolve the Differences between the Oxygen and the Phlogiston Theories [pp.327-336]Action at a Distance in Classical Physics [pp.337-353]A Sixteenth-Century Decimal System of Weights [pp.354-357]More Questions on the Meteorologica [pp.357-360]"Historians and Philosophers" of Science [pp.360-366]Notes & Correspondence [p.367]Book Reviewsuntitled [pp.368-369]untitled [p.369]untitled [pp.369-370]untitled [pp.370-372]untitled [p.372]untitled [p.373]untitled [pp.373-374]untitled [pp.374-376]untitled [pp.376-377]untitled [pp.377-380]untitled [pp.380-382]untitled [pp.382-383]untitled [pp.383-385]untitled [pp.385-386]untitled [pp.386-387]untitled [pp.387-388]Back Matter

sarton-historians and philosophers of science

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