The Janus Faces of Genius: The Role of Alchemy in Newton's ThoughtCambridge University Press, 1991 - 359 páginas In this major re-evaluation of Isaac Newton's intellectual life, Betty Jo Teeter Dobbs shows how his pioneering work in mathematics, physics, and cosmology was intertwined with his study of alchemy. Directing attention to the religious ambience of the alchemical enterprise of early modern Europe, Dobbs argues that Newton understood alchemy - and the divine activity in micromatter to which it spoke - to be a much needed corrective to the overly mechanized system of Descartes. The same religious basis underlay the rest of his work. To Newton it seemed possible to obtain partial truths from many different approaches to knowledge, be it textual work aimed at the interpretation of prophecy, the study of ancient theology and philosophy, creative mathematics, or experiments with prisms, pendulums, vegetating minerals, light, or electricity. Newton's work was a constant attempt to bring these partial truths together, with the larger goal of restoring true natural philosophy and true religion. |
Otras ediciones - Ver todas
The Janus Faces of Genius: The Role of Alchemy in Newton's Thought Betty Jo Teeter Dobbs Sin vista previa disponible - 1992 |
Términos y frases comunes
active principle aether agent alchemical alchemists Alexandre Koyré Ambix ancient Arian Babson Babson College Bernard Cohen Bernhardus Varenius bodies Cambridge University Press cause of gravity century chaos Chapter Christ Christian comets concept cosmic creation Deity deleted Descartes Dobbs early earth electric Emerald Tablet English Essays Fatio fermentation fire force God's gravitational aether gravitatione gravity heat Hermes Hermes Trismegistus History Ibid ideas idem illegible letter illegible word Keynes MS 28 King's College Koyré-Cohen Latin laws Leibniz light London manuscript mathematical matter McGuire mechanical philosophy mercury metals modern motion natural philosophy Neoplatonic Newton's alchemy Newtonian notes Opticks original papers Paris particles Philo philosophers pneuma Portsmouth Collection Principia prophecy protoplast putrefaction religion Renaissance Royal Society salt Scholium Science Sotheby lot Stoic Stoicism substance sulphur theological things thought translation treatise University Library vegetable spirit Westfall Yahuda