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This book examines the different areas of knowledge, traditions, and conceptual resources that contributed to the building of Max Planck´s theory of radiation. It presents an insightful comparative analysis that not only sheds light upon a fundamental chapter in the history of modern physics, but also enlarges our understanding of how theoreticians work.

Coverage offers a deep investigation into the technical aspects behind the theory and extends in time the notion of quantum revolution. It also presents a full-fledged discussion of the combinatorial part of Planck´s theory and places emphasis on the epistemological role of mathematical practices. By painstakingly reconstructing both the electromagnetic and the combinatorial part of Planck´s black-body theory, the author shows how some apparently merely technical resources, such as the Fourier series, effectively contributed to shape the final form of Planck´s theory.

For decades, historians have debated the conditions of possibility of Max Planck´s discovery as a paradigmatic example of scientific revolution. In particular, the use of combinatorics, which eventually paved the way for the introduction of the quantum hypothesis, has remained a puzzle for experts. This book presents a fresh perspective on this important debate that will appeal to historians and philosophers of science.

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Chapter 1: In the Theoretician´s Workshop: Notes for a Historical and Philosophical Analysis of Theories 1.- Chapter 2: The Problem of Heat Radiation.- Chapter 3: Planck´s Theory of Radiation.- Chapter 4: Deconstructing Planck.- Index.

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