"Pierre Duhem, himself a distinguished physicist, initiated in heroic fashion, almost singlehandedly, the modern study of the history of medieval science by the simple but effective expedient of reading and analyzing as many medieval scientific manuscripts as possible." — Palter, Robert M. (1961). Preface to Toward Modern Science, Vol. I. New York: The Noonday Press, p. ix.
Duhem 1991b: "Whatever I have said of the method by which physics proceeds, or of the nature and scope that we must attribute to the theories it constructs, does not in any way prejudice either the metaphysical doctrines or the religious beliefs of anyone who accepts my words. The believer and the nonbeliever may both work in common accord for the progress of physical science such as I have tried to define it. [...] In itself and by its essence, any principle of theoretical physics has no part to play in metaphysical or theological discussions." Duhem, Pierre (1991b) [Originally published 1906]. The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory. Translated by Wiener, Philip P. (2nd ed.). Princeton: Princeton University Press. Excerpts: excerpt 1, & excerpt 2 "Heavenly bodies: Theory, physics and philosophy"
