8 / 92
37 38
8
La Lettre
This list of personalities, selected for their expertise in their respective field, is not only a tribute paid to the
first academicians, it is mainly the expression of a principle at the foundation of our institution. An academy
should be an assembly of very high level scientists in their own discipline, in order to enable them to work
together on topics whose consideration requires strong skills. The interaction between disciplines takes
place smoothly and naturally, when it is deemed necessary, not forgetting that many problems find their
own solution within one same discipline. Interactions between disciplinary fields should not be passively
lived through, like an old song one sings more or less in tune to feel safe for lack of ideas; on the contrary,
they should be voluntary and associate the skills of all to venture off into new horizons.
This conception finds itself clearly expressed in the very first page of the archives held at the Academy:
"
On this 22 December 1666, it has been settled in the company that it would meet twice a week, on
Wednesdays and Saturdays. [...] On Wednesdays, one shall deal with mathematics, on Saturdays, on
shall work on physics. As there is a great connection between these two sciences, it was deemed fit that
the company did not divide and that all gathered at the assembly on these same days.
"
This new Academy thus met for the first time on 22 December 1666, in the King’s library, rue Vivienne.
This presentation before the King was the object of a magnificent painting by Henri Testelin, which may
be seen at Versailles.
What place in the Nation?
Things are clear from the very first page of the history of the "Académie
des Sciences" written by Bernard de Fontenelle: “
The
reign of words and expressions has passed,
one wants things. One establishes principles
that one understands, one follows them,
and thence from does it happen that one
advances. The authority has ceased to
bear more weight than reason, what was
received without contradiction because
it had been so for a long time is now re-
examined and often rejected.
” The archives of
the Academy speak for themselves: the working sessions followed each
other on topics chosen by the academicians, protecting the interests of
science and the country.
Bernard de Fontenelle
(1657 -1757)
© Archives de l'Académie
© F
rom
B.
Eym
ann
-
Académ
ie
des
sc
iences