Project information
Constructing Epistemic Authority: Émilie Du Châtelet and the Académie royale des sciences

The project explores the construction of epistemic authority in early Enlightenment philosophy and science. By integrating concepts from social and historical epistemology, we analyze two key sets of sources: Du Châtelet’s correspondence, reviews of her publications, and other contemporary documents reflecting her work; and the yearbooks of the Académie royale des sciences. Our research follows two main lines of inquiry. First, we examine the strategies Du Châtelet employed to deal with epistemic injustice and establish a distinct form of female epistemic authority. Second, we investigate the epistemic standards enforced by the Académie and assess whether Du Châtelet aligned with these standards to bolster her own authority. Through this interdisciplinary approach, we aim to deepen the understanding of the production of philosophical and scientific knowledge in the Enlightenment.