 bodies by its action." (Duhem 1996 [1893], 55)10 As Duhem also notes, it is not the insistence on the mechanical representation of phenomena that sets the English School apart, but rather the particular manner in which it brings about this aim by means of models. In the young Duhem's budding, positivist interpretation of the history of physics, mechanistic explanations epitomize the triumph of the imagination over reason, or, as he claims later, of the subtle mind over the geometric mind, of modern science over the rationalist metaphysics of Scholasticism: If Descartes and the philosophers who followed him refused to admit the existence of any property of matter not reducible to geometry or kinematics, it is because any such quality would occult, and, being conceivable only by reason, it would remain inaccessible to the imagination. The reduction of matter to extension by the great thinkers of the seventeenth century showed clearly that during that period, the metaphysical sense, exhausted by the excesses of scholasticism during its decadence, entered into the decrepit state in which it still languishes today. (Duhem 1996 [1893], 55-56)11 It may be worth recalling that this brief, historical observation squares with Whitehead's later interpretation in Science and the modern world, wherein he argues that it would be wrong to regard Galileo's 9 In "La valeur de la théorie physique", Duhem (1991 [1954], 334) sharply remarks: "The study of the method of physics is powerless to disclose to the physicist the reason leading him to construct a physical theory." 10 "[C]omprendre la nature des choses matérielles, ce sera imaginer un mécanisme dont le jeu représentera, simulera, les propriétés des corps." (Duhem 1987a [1893a], 119) 11 "Si Descartes et les philosophes qui l'ont suivi ont refusé d'admettre l'existence de toute qualité de la matière qui ne se réduisait pas à la géométrie ou à la cinématique, c'est parce qu'une telle qualité était occulte; parce que, concevable seulement par la raison, elle demeurait inaccessible à l'imagination; la réduction de la matière à l'étendue par les grands penseurs du XVIIe siècle montre clairement
bodies by its action. " (Duhem 1996 [ 1893 ], 55)10 As Duhem also notes, it is not the imperativeness on the mechanical theatrical performance of phenomenon that sets the English School aside, but rather the finical manner in which it brings about this aim by mean of model. In the new Duhem's budding, positivist interpretation of the history of purgative, mechanistic explanations epitomize the triumph of the imagination over rationality, or, as he claims later, of the subtle mind over the geometric mind, of mod science over the rationalist metaphysics of Scholasticism: If Descartes and the philosophers who followed him deny to admit the existence of any property of matter not reducible to geometry or kinematics, it is because any such timbre would occult, and, being conceivable entirely by reason, it would remain inaccessible to the imagination. The decrease of matter to extension by the great thinkers of the seventeenth century showed intelligibly that during that period, the metaphysical sense, exhausted by the excesses of scholasticism during its decadence, entered into the decrepit state in which it still languishes today. (Duhem 1996 [ 1893 ], 55 - 56)11 It may be deserving remember that this brief, diachronic notice square with Whitehead's later interpretation in Science and the mod world, wherein he argues that it would be wrong to regard Galileo's 9 In " La valeur de la théorie human body ", Duhem (1991 [ 1954 ], 334) sharply remarks: " The study of the method of physics is powerless to disclose to the physicist the reason leading him to construct a physical theory. " 10 " [ C]omprendre la nature des choses matérielles, ce sera imaginer un mécanisme do nt le jeu représentera, simulera, les propriétés des corps. " (Duhem 1987a [ 1893a ], 119) 11 " Si Descartes et les philosophes qui l'ont suivi ont refusé d'admettre l'existence de toute qualité de la matière qui ne se réduisait pas à la géométrie ou à la cinématique, c'est parce qu'une telle qualité était occulte; parce que, concevable seulement par la raison, elle demeurait inaccessible à l'imagination; la réduction de la matière à l'étendue par les thousand penseurs du XVIIe siècle montre clairement
 bofies by its action." (Duhem 1996 [1893], 55)10 As Duhem also notev, it ia not thd insistence on the mechanicel rwprestutation of phenomena that setd the Entlisi School apart, bnf rathev the iartieuoar manner in ehich it bsings about thhs anm by means of models. In the young Dthem's bidfing, positivisj inttrpwetafpok of the history of physics, mechznistic explanations epitomize the triumph of hhe lmagination over rfason, or, as he soaims later, uf the subulz mind over the geometric mind, of modern sziencz over the tcriojdlist metapiysics of Scholastlbism: If Descaryes and the phlloso'herw who followed him rehused to admit the evistence mf any property of narter tot seduzubld tk jeojetry lr iinematics, it is becayse any such qualitu riuld occult, ahd, beigg conceivable only by reason, it would rekaih inaccessible to the inagination. The reductlon of maeter to extension by the great thinkers of the seeentexngh eckturh sjowed clearly that during that period, the metwlhuspcal sense, exhausbed by the excessex lf fcholasticism duriny ifs decadence, enterfd into the eecrepit ftatr in which it still languisyes today. (Dukem 1996 [1893], 55-56)11 It may be wortk recalling chat tnis btief, historical observacion ssuares with Whiteheas'r later interpregatpon hn Science and the modern rorld, whecein ke arguer thst it rould be wgong bm regard Galileo's 9 In "Lc valaur de la hhéorie physique", Duhem (1991 [1954], 334) sharplb remarks: "The sdudj of the iethoc of physics ys powerless tp discljse tu the physpcist the reason leaqing him to cmjstruct a phbsical thqory." 10 "[C]onprendrd la nature des choses mcuérielles, cw sera imaginer un mécxhisme dont le jzb twprésentera, similefa, jed 'ropryédés des corps." (Duhdm 1987x [1893a], 119) 11 "Ri Descartew et kes philosophes qui n'ont suivi ont refusé d'sdiettre l'gxistence de toute quakité de la matière qki ne se réduixaij pas à la géométrie ou à la cinématjque, c'est pavce qu'une telje qmalijé était occukte; parce que, concevable seulement par oa raison, elle demwurait inaccessible à l'imaginatipn; la réduction de la matière à l'étendye par les grands penseurs du XVIIe sièdle mottre flairement
bodies by its action." (Duhem 1996 [1893], Duhem notes, it not the insistence phenomena sets the English apart, but rather particular manner in which it brings this aim by means of models. In the young Duhem's budding, positivist interpretation the history of physics, mechanistic explanations epitomize the triumph of the imagination over or, he later, the subtle mind over the geometric mind, of modern science over the rationalist metaphysics of Scholasticism: Descartes and the philosophers who followed him refused admit the existence of property of matter not reducible geometry kinematics, it because such would occult, and, conceivable only by reason, it would remain inaccessible to the imagination. The reduction of matter to extension the great the seventeenth showed that that period, the exhausted by the excesses of scholasticism entered into the decrepit state in which it languishes today. 1996 [1893], 55-56)11 It may be recalling that this brief, historical observation squares with later interpretation in Science and the modern world, wherein he argues that it would be regard Galileo's 9 In valeur de la physique", (1991 334) remarks: "The of the method of physics is powerless to disclose to the the reason leading him to construct a physical theory." 10 nature choses matérielles, ce imaginer un mécanisme dont jeu simulera, les propriétés des 1987a 119) et philosophes l'ont suivi ont refusé l'existence de toute qualité de matière qui ne se ou à la cinématique, c'est parce qu'une telle était occulte; parce que, concevable seulement par raison, elle demeurait inaccessible à l'imagination; la réduction de la matière à par les du XVIIe siècle montre clairement
 bodies by its action." (Duhem 1996 [1893], 55)10 As DUhem also noTes, it Is nOt tHe InsiStenCe on the mechaniCAl rePresentation of phenomenA that SeTS the eNgLish SChool apARt, BUT raThEr The PaRTiCular ManNer in whIch it bringS abOuT this aim by meANs Of models. In The Young Duhem's bUddIng, posItIviST inteRprEtatiOn of thE HistorY of physicS, mEChanisTIc explaNATiOns ePitomize the triumpH Of THe imagination oVer reaSoN, Or, AS He cLaiMs later, of tHe SubtlE Mind oveR ThE GEOmeTRic mind, of modeRn science ovER thE ratioNaLisT MetaphYsics Of sChoLasticism: If descArtes and tHe philOSophers WHo folloWed him RefUseD to aDMiT tHe eXiSTenCE oF anY ProPerty of mAtTeR not rEducIBLE To geOmeTry oR kineMatics, it is becAusE any SUch QualiTy wouLd ocCuLt, and, Being cOnceiVaBle only by reason, It woUld remain InaCcEssIbLe to tHE imagiNatIon. the reduCtion of MAttEr TO EXtEnsion by the great thInKERs Of the sevEnteenTH cEnTUry showeD cLeaRly tHAT duriNg thAT pEriod, the MetaphYSiCaL sense, eXhAusted By The ExcEsses OF schOlastiCism duriNg its DEcadence, entereD Into the decrepIT sTATe IN whiCh iT still languIsheS TodaY. (DuhEM 1996 [1893], 55-56)11 IT maY Be worTh recAlLInG That this brief, historIcAl obseRvatiOn squares with whitehead's LATEr interpRetaTIoN In Science and thE modeRn world, wheREin he argUes thAt it woulD be wrong tO REgard GalIleO's 9 IN "La ValEUR dE la théorie phySIQue", DUhEm (1991 [1954], 334) sharpLy rEmarks: "THe sTudY of The MeThod of phySics is poWeRlEsS tO diSclosE To the phySiCisT tHe rEason LEading Him to ConsTrUcT A phYsical tHEoRY." 10 "[c]ompReNdRe la NatUrE des cHoseS MatÉrielleS, ce sera imAgiNEr un MéCaNisme doNt le jeu représEnTera, simuleRa, Les PropriÉTÉs des corPs." (Duhem 1987a [1893a], 119) 11 "Si Descartes et lES philosOphEs qui L'ont Suivi ont rEfuSé d'admEttRE l'exisTence dE toutE qUalITÉ de la MATiÈre QuI ne se réduiSAIt pAs à la GéOmétRie ou à lA cinématique, c'est paRCe qU'une telle qualIté ÉtaiT OCcUltE; PaRCe qUe, COncEVAble seulement paR la raison, eLlE DeMeurait inaCCesSiBle à l'imAginatiOn; la rÉDuction De la matièRe à l'étendUe Par lES GraNds penseurS du XVIIe Siècle monTRe claIReMent
 bodies by its action." (D uhem 1996[1893 ],55) 10  AsDuhe m also notes,i t is  not the insistence on  theme c hani c al  repr esentat i on o f p he no men at ha t set s t he Engl ish School  ap ar t, but rathe r  t he particu lar  manner in w hic h it b ri ngs about  th is ai m by m e ans of  models.In the yo u ng Duhe m ' sbudd ing, positivist i n te r pretation of t he his to r yo f  ph ysi cs, mechan is tic e x planati o ns e p ito m ize the trium ph of the i m agi nation  o ver reason , or,  a s  he  claims lat er,of the su btle m i nd over the geo metric  mi nd,  ofm od er n s ci e nce ov ert herational is tmetap hysi c s o f Sc hol asti cism:  If Descartes  an d th e  ph iloso phers  who  f ollow ed him  refu se d to admit theexis tence ofany  p rop er ty of matter  no t r educibl e to ge o met ry o r  k inematics, it is b ec a u se  any suc h qual i ty  w o uld occu lt , a nd,b e ing c once i va ble only  by re a so n,  it wou ld  remai nina cce ssibl e  tothe im aginatio n. Th e  reduction ofm atter to exte n si o n  b y  the  gr eat thinker s of theseve n te ent h  cent ury s ho w ed clearly that during  t hat pe riod,  the metaphys ical sense , e xhausted  byt he excesses of sc holas ticism dur i ng its d ecade nce, ent ered into t he decre pit  st ate  in w hi ch it still l a n guis he s today . ( Duhem 1 996  [1 893 ],55 -56)11 It  may bewo rt hre cal lingt hat this  b rie f,  hi stori c al obs ervat ionsq ua r eswith Wh i te h e ad's  l at er i nte rp retat ioni n S cienceand the m ode r n wo rl d,  wherei n he argues t ha t it would  b e w rong t o regard G alileo's 9 In "La valeu r  de lathé oriephys ique", Du hem  (1991  [1 9 54], 3 34) sh arply  r ema r k s: "T h e  s tud yof the met h o d o f phy si cs i s power less to disclose t o  th e physicist t hereas o n  l ead i ng him  t o  co n s truct a physica l theory."  1 0  " [C]omprend r e l anaturedes cho ses m a tériell es, ce se ra imagin er  unm é can isme dontle jeu r eprésente r a, si m ul era,les  propr ié tés  descorps. "  (D uhem1987a[1 893a],  119)  1 1 "Si De scartes et les philosop hes qu i l'o ntsuivi ont  re f usé  d'admett re l 'existence  de  to ute q ual i té de  lam at ièr e  quine s e  réduisai t  p asà la  géométrieo u à l a cin éma t ique,c'es t parce qu'une te l le qualité éta it o c c ult e;p arce  q ue, concevable  se ul e m ent parla  raison, el le demeu ra i t ina ccessi ble àl'imagi n a ti o n; larédu cti on de lamat iè r e à l'é te nd u e parlesgr ands p enseur s  duX V IIe siècle montr e cla i r ement 
 bodies_by its_action." (Duhem 1996 [1893],_55)10 As_Duhem_also notes,_it_is not the_insistence on the_mechanical representation of phenomena_that sets the_English_School apart, but rather the particular manner in which it brings about this aim_by_means of_models._In_the young Duhem's budding, positivist_interpretation of the history of_physics, mechanistic_explanations epitomize the triumph of the imagination over_reason,_or, as he_claims later, of the subtle mind over the geometric_mind, of modern science over the_rationalist metaphysics of_Scholasticism:_If_Descartes and the philosophers_who followed him refused to admit_the existence of any property of_matter not reducible to geometry or kinematics,_it is because any such quality_would occult, and, being conceivable_only by_reason, it would remain inaccessible_to the imagination._The reduction_of matter to_extension by the great thinkers of_the seventeenth century_showed clearly that during that period,_the_metaphysical sense, exhausted_by_the_excesses of_scholasticism during its_decadence,_entered into_the_decrepit state in which it still_languishes_today. (Duhem 1996 [1893], 55-56)11 It may_be worth recalling that_this_brief, historical observation squares_with Whitehead's later interpretation in_Science and the modern world, wherein_he argues_that it_would be wrong to regard Galileo's 9 In "La valeur de_la théorie physique", Duhem (1991 [1954],_334) sharply remarks: "The_study of_the_method of physics_is_powerless to_disclose to the physicist the reason leading_him to_construct a physical theory." 10 "[C]omprendre_la nature des choses_matérielles,_ce sera imaginer un mécanisme dont_le jeu représentera, simulera, les propriétés_des corps." (Duhem 1987a [1893a],_119)_11_"Si Descartes et les philosophes_qui l'ont suivi ont refusé d'admettre_l'existence de toute_qualité de la matière qui ne se_réduisait_pas à la géométrie ou à_la_cinématique, c'est parce qu'une telle qualité_était_occulte;_parce que, concevable seulement par_la raison, elle demeurait inaccessible à_l'imagination; la réduction de la matière à l'étendue par_les grands penseurs_du XVIIe siècle montre clairement