[On the creativity of the researcher: the work of Charles Richet]

At the birth of the scientific thoughts, the degree of creativity of the searcher depends on his capacity to extract himself from the previously acquired notions in this domain. The discovery of anaphylaxis, by Charles Richet and Paul Portier, constitutes therefore an epistemological break off, knocking over the theory on organism defences and the universality of the biological response to different stimuli. In the light of the works of Charles Richet on hypnosis, renal physiology, thermoregulation and psychophysiology, we see that the most creative discoveries are also the most unexpected or the most difficult to impose. They require courage and initiative, severity of thought, a radical independence of mind and a certain distance concerning eventual practical consequences.