There is a great deal to be said for stepping aside to see the oddity of the things we most insistently assert. It is so healthy for the mind that it can even cause laughter. But it is an unsettling approach, and not many are comfortable with it. If a scientist or an historian tellsContinue reading “The Progressive Primate”
Tag Archives: science
Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Conclusion: On History
Humour me a little history as I begin to conclude. This whole extended essay on that English knight, Thomas Browne, has been about history, and remarkably few historical facts have been mentioned. I have written at length about modernity in the abstract, an abstract I would not venture to assert exists, though I am certainContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Conclusion: On History”
Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 7 (conclusion)
That is the first attractive quality of his science. The second quality, I think, is one we talk about a lot and practice little. He is astonished by the world, as we complacently think we ought to be. He is so generally and generously astonished that he suspects some mystery in it; and he willContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 7 (conclusion)”
Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 6
So Browne’s manner of speaking is medieval. His worldview is medieval. He is not a physicist like Newton: his manner of thinking is medieval. He knows much that most medieval scholars did not know, and a little that no medieval scholars knew, but that is hardly a measure of enlightenment. If to be scientific isContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 6”
Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 5
The two revolutions contaminated each other in both directions. Thirty years after the publication of Copernicus’ work, the revolution on earth spread to the heavens, and strange beasts and birds were discovered in the sky – the mysterious nova stella, the ‘new star’ first recorded by Tycho Brahe; the comet, or ‘Long-haired Star’ of Halley,Continue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 5”
Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 4
The revolution in scientific theory was deep, though perhaps narrow as a result. It begins with Copernicus, and ends, if it has ended, with Newton. In a broad sense, it did not discover new entities, but rather rediscovered old entities. It began with the theory that the earth orbits the sun and is in sympathyContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 4”
Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 3
[At length, after an absence doubtless not unwelcome, the historian whose heavy hand is responsible for the preceding posts returns, with five weeks’ worth of writing. If he had the opportunity, no doubt, he would completely rewrite the remainder of this Chapter. As is, he must settle for some brief explanatory remarks. The first isContinue reading “Smatterings of the Philosopher’s Stone – Chapter 1, part 3”
theparsnipoftime 