ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses Helene Metzger’s historiography and epistemology. It shows the way in which she tackled the problem of anachronism, both in her theoretical essays and in her histories of chemistry and crystallography. The book also discusses Metzger’s engagement with disciplines and scholars around her. It also shows how Metzger engaged with the philosophies of her time. Philosophy was crucial for Metzger, both as historical method, which she indeed called ‘philosophical’, and as aim of history of science, which for her is the study of the human mind. At the beginning of 1930s, Metzger appeared to have gained official positions in the respected Centre de synthese, and she had also gained an international profile. From 1934 Metzger started attending Alexandre Koyres lectures at the Ecole pratique des hautes etudes, and immediately recognised Koyre’s approach to history of science as similar to her own.
