Abstract

In principle Claude Bernard criticizes historical reflection, which he character- izes as a waste of time. But in spite of strong statements condemning it, Bernard makes use of history frequently and in several different ways. The coexistence of this openly antihistorical stance with a use of the historical perspective poses a problem. I will try to show that these two attitudes lead toward a common goal: promoting science. They combine to create a broad strategy that contributed a great deal to the development of scientism in the nineteenth century. Bernard's arguments may be one of the sources of the distrust some scientists still feel toward the history of science.