Robert Boyle ReconsideredMichael Hunter Cambridge University Press, 2003 M12 18 - 252 pages This book presents a new view of Robert Boyle (1627-91), the leading British scientist in the generation before Newton. It comprises a series of essays by scholars from Europe and North America that scrutinize Boyle's writing on science, philosophy and theology, bringing out the subtlety and complexity of his ideas. Particular attention is given to Boyle's interest in alchemy and to other facets of his ideas that might initially seem surprising in a leading advocate of the mechanical philosophy. Many of the essays use material from among Boyle's extensive manuscripts, which have recently been catalogued for the first time. The introduction surveys the state of Boyle studies and deploys the findings of the essays to offer a reevaluation of Boyle. The book also includes a complete bibliography of writings on Boyle since 1940. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The present volume | 5 |
The new Boyle | 10 |
Virtue providence and political neutralism Boyle and Interregnum politics | 19 |
Notes | 32 |
Science writing and writing science Boyle and rhetorical theory | 37 |
Notes | 52 |
Learning from experience Boyles construction of an experimental philosophy | 57 |
Boyle and cosmical qualities | 119 |
Notes | 135 |
The theological context of Boyles Things above Reason | 139 |
Notes | 152 |
Parcere nominibus Boyle Hooke and the rhetorical interpretation of Descartes | 157 |
Appendix | 170 |
Notes | 171 |
Teleological reasoning in Boyles Disquisition about Final Causes | 177 |
Notes | 74 |
Carneades and the chemists a study of The Sceptical Chymist and its impact on seventeenthcentury chemistry | 79 |
Notes | 89 |
Boyles alchemical pursuits | 91 |
Notes | 102 |
Boyles debt to corpuscular alchemy | 107 |
Notes | 117 |
Notes | 192 |
Locke and Boyle on miracles and Gods existence | 193 |
Notes | 209 |
215 | |
227 | |
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alchemical alchemists Aretology argued arguments Aristotelian atheists believe bodies Boyle Papers Boyle's Boyle's alchemical Boyle's views Cambridge University Press Cartesians chemical chemistry Christian Virtuoso claims Clericuzio concerning contemporaries context corpuscles corpuscularian Cosmical Qualities Cosmical Suspicions Descartes dialogue Discourse discussion Disquisition divine doctrine draft edition England Epicureans Essays example Excellency of Theology experimental experiments explanation final causes Forms and Qualities Geber Glanvill God's gold Hartlib Harwood Henry History Hooke's human reason Ibid interpretation John Joseph Glanvill knowledge learned letter Locke Locke's London matter mechanical philosophy mercury metals Michael Hunter miracles natural philosophy naturalist Notion of Nature Oldenburg original Oxford Paracelsian particles particular political principles published readers Religion revelation rhetorical Robert Boyle Robert Hooke Royal Society Sceptical Chymist Scripture sect seventeenth-century Shapin and Schaffer Socinians spirit Stalbridge Steven Shapin style sublimation sulphur Summa theory Things above Reason tradition transmutation treatise truth