Repenser la science au Moyen Âge : l’exemple de la lune au miroir de la philosophie de Thomas Kuhn dans quelques encyclopédies latines (7e-13e siècle)

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Supervisors: Van den Abeele, Baudouin ; Lambert, Dominique
Faculty: Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres
Degree label: Master [120] en histoire, à finalité approfondie
Abstract: enThe aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the existence of a scientific 'revolution' as well as a 'normal' science in the Middle Ages. To do so, the present work is based on the philosophy of Thomas Kuhn presented in his book entitled 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions'. Based on the entries on the moon in several Latin encyclopaedias from the seventh to the thirteenth century, it shows how Isidore of Seville, the first encyclopaedist of the Middle Ages, can be considered the initiator of the medieval scientific paradigm and how his successors expanded the knowledge. This dissertation has shown how the moon was perceived and studied and how the scientific productions of the period attest reflections on the world and the realities that are inside it. As for Kuhn's philosophy, it has shown that the encyclopaedic productions of the early Middle Ages answer the same questions as those present after the arrival of Latin translations from Arabic in the 12th century.