THE SOCIETY, THE SAVANTS, AND THE SCIENTIST: A GLIMPSE AT THE SOCIÉTÉ GÉOLOGIQUE DE FRANCE THROUGH THE ACTIVITY OF THE FOUNDING MEMBER NÉRÉE BOUBÉE (1830-1860)

Abstract

The relevance of the Société Géologique de France (SGF) in the geoscientific landscape is undoubtedly recognized, but the academic literature dedicated to its history is scarce. The present paper aims to portray some aspects of the SGF's ordinary functioning filtered through the eyes and experience of a first-time member during the years he was active in the Society's life—approximately from 1830 to 1860. The basic assumption is that the SGF, similar to the Geological Society of London and other (geo)scientific societies, was an “arena of geological debate in the early Nineteenth century” (Rudwick 1986). Within this arena, not only scientific cultures, ideas, and practices were confronted, but also savants, experts, and amateurs clashed with each other. The constant and often very intense participation of Nérée Boubée (1806-1862) reveals much about the SGF and himself. We will follow his footsteps as a guiding thread of the narrative. Not being a savant, nor part of the élite of geology at his time, neither was Boubée a typical amateur. As was the case of many other members of the SGF, he may be considered an “accomplished” member— i.e., a geologist specialist in a more restricted subject (Rudwick 1985, p. 120). Boubée's trajectory within the SGF is a good window to see the functioning of the SGF in more detail, as it may also exemplify the paths followed by other ordinary members like him, who constituted the majority of the membership. The article concludes that the SGF was indeed an “arena” both in terms of the construction of knowledge and practices, and at the personal level of intra-community interactions.