Elements, Principles and Corpuscles

A Study of Atomism and Chemistry in the Seventeenth Century
1. Auflage. Softcover version of original hardcover Auflage 2001
ISBN: 978-90-481-5640-5
Verlag: Springer Netherlands

Buch, Englisch, 232 Seiten, Previously published in hardcover, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 382 g

Reihe: International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées

In , Antonio Clericuzio explores the relationships between chemistry and corpuscular philosophy in the age of the Scientific Revolution. Science historians have regarded chemistry and corpuscular philosophy as two distinct traditions. Clericuzio's view is that since the beginning of the 17th century atomism and chemistry were strictly connected. This is attested by Daniel Sennert and by many hitherto little-known French and English natural philosophers. They often combined a corpuscular theory of matter with Paracelsian chemical (and medical) doctrines. Boyle plays a central part in the present book: Clericuzio redefines Boyle's chemical views, by showing that Boyle did not subordinate chemistry to the principles of mechanical philosophy. When Boyle explained chemical phenomena, he had recourse to corpuscles endowed with chemical, not mechanical, properties. The combination of chemistry and corpuscular philosophy was adopted by a number of chemists active in the last decades of the 17th century, both in England and on the Continent.
Using a large number of primary sources, the author challenges the standard view of the corpuscular theory of matter as identical with the mechanical philosophy. He points out that different versions of the corpuscular philosophy flourished in the 17th century. Most of them were not based on the mechanical theory, i.e. on the view that matter is inert and has only mechanical properties. Throughout the 17th century, active principles, as well as chemical properties, are attributed to corpuscles. Given its broad coverage, the book is a significant contribution to both history of science and history of philosophy.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Clericuzio, Antonio

Fachgebiete

• Naturwissenschaften Physik Quantenphysik Atom- und Molekülphysik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Wissenschaftstheorie, Wissenschaftsphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Westliche Philosophie: Neuzeit
• Interdisziplinäres Wissenschaften Wissenschaften: Allgemeines Wissenschaften: Theorie, Epistemologie, Methodik
• Naturwissenschaften Chemie Chemie Allgemein Geschichte der Chemie
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Geschichtliche Themen Kultur- und Ideengeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Minima to Atoms: Sennert.- 2. Spirit, Chemical Principles and Atoms in France in the First Half of the Seventeenth Century.- 3. Chemistry and Atomism in England (1600 to 1660).- 4. Robert Boyle’s Corpuscular Philosophy.- 5. Chemical Theories of Matter in England After 1661.- 6. Corpuscular Chemistry in the Last Decades of the Seventeenth Century.- Epilogue.