Os primórdios do ensino de História da Ciência na Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Coimbra

Resumo A criacao, em 1961, de um Centro de Estudos de Cartografia Antiga, anexo a Faculdade de Ciencias e a Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Coimbra, foi um importante factor que conduziu a introducao na Universidade de Coimbra do ensino da Historia da Ciencia, em particular da Historia da Ciencia Portuguesa. Armando Cortesao, que liderava esse grupo de investigacao, ministrou, desde o ano lectivo de 1961/62 ate pelo menos 1975, um curso livre sobre historia da cartografia. Foi a convite de Armando Cortesao que, em 1962, Reyer Hooykaas, professor de Historia da Ciencia da Universidade Livre de Amesterdao, chegou a Coimbra para proferir duas palestras que, nas palavras de Luis de Albuquerque, o professor de Matematica de Coimbra que se notabilizou na Historia dos Descobrimentos, foram “memoraveis”. Hooykaas considerava que todo o cientista, pelo menos de um modo geral, deveria conhecer a historia do desenvolvimento da sua propria ciencia, “os seus avancos, conquistas e recuos”. Em 1963 e 1964 Hooykaas leccionou um curso livre intitulado “Introducao a Historia da Ciencia”, que descreveu os feitos cientifico-tecnicos alcancados pelos portugueses ao longo da expansao maritima iniciada no seculo XV. A reforma do ensino de 1964-65 introduziu oficialmente o ensino da Historia da Ciencia na Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Coimbra. Tornava-se nessa altura evidente a necessidade desta disciplina para formar cientistas e professores. Palavras-chave: Universidade de Coimbra; Reyer Hooykaas; Armando Cortesao; Luis Albuquerque. Abstract The creation in 1960 of a Center for Ancient Cartography Studies associated with the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, was a key factor which led to the modern introduction of the teaching of History of Sciences at the University of Coimbra, in particular History of Science in Portugal. Armando Cortesao, who was the head of this research group, was responsible for teaching a free course on ancient cartography every year (a course he taught since the school year of 1961/62 at least until 1975). Reyer Hooykaas, professor of History of Science at the Free University of Amsterdam, arrived in Coimbra in 1962 at the invitation of Armando Cortesao, to deliver two lectures that, in the words of Luis de Albuquerque, professor of Mathematics in Coimbra who became famous in the History of Portuguese Discoveries, were memorable. Hooykaas considered that every scientist, at least in general, should know the history of the development of his own science, its hopes, conquests and recoils. In 1963, 1964 and 1967, Hooykaas started teaching a free course entitled “Introduction to the History of Science”, where he described the scientific and technical achievements of the Portuguese during the maritime expansion which started in the 15th century. The teaching reform of 1964-65 introduced officially the teaching of the History of Science in the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Coimbra. By then it was clear the need for this new discipline to form scientists and teachers. Keywords: University of Coimbra; Reyer Hooykaas, Armando Cortesao; Luis Albuquerque.