Reevaluating Pasteur-Pouchet controversy on spontaneous generation through the correspondence

What is it about?

The controversy between Pasteur and Pouchet on spontaneous generation (1859-1864) has received great interest in sociology of science, because it is generally admitted that Pasteur won the battle because he benefited the support of his lobby within the circles of the Academy of Sciences.

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Why is it important?

This paper shows that the main statements produced by the sociology of science were shifted by Pennetier’s biased version (1907). The study of the correspondence between Pouchet and the members of the Académie des Sciences reveals that Pouchet was on intimate terms with many members of this institution, and also that the two commissions appointed in 1862 and 1864 did not collude with any Pastorian lobby. The discovery of a forgery by Pouchet leads to a quite different estimate of this controversy. Pouchet’s defeat can be explained by his repeated retreats in front of the commissions, his dogmatic faith in heterogeny, lobbying by the press, and an immoderate need for glory.