Newsletter of the History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

Home , David Keir (historian), George Johnstone Stoney

Newsletter of

The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

ISSN 1527-9332 deserves the continued support of the Fall 1999 From the Editor philosophy of science community. Volume V, Issue 1 The autumn brings on for most of us Yet another manifestation of our the delights of a new academic year global focus is the ongoing series of and perhaps the pleasant onset of cool HOPOS ‘travelogues’. The weather. Not all of our kindred installment for this issue features a scholarly souls are looking forward to guide to resources of Ireland. Charles a change in the temperature, though. Mollan has assembled a charming Inside this Issue As some three months have passed and useful overview of Ireland’s since the earthquake in Western intellectual assets in history and Turkey, we might do well to recall From the Editor philosophy of science. the destruction wrought upon persons 1 and properties—but also upon This issue closes with two reviews of schools and universities. Stephen books that address relations between Conference News Voss (Bogazici University, Istanbul, early modern philosophy and science 2 [email protected]) has kindly put us on one hand and mystical or hermetic in touch with representatives from traditions on the other. The first News of the Profession Sakarya University, which was looks at recent works in translation of Call For Reports severely damaged in the earthquake. and commentary on Giordano Bruno, 2 Conference and Talk As the winter nears, those in the and the second looks at Lawrence Calendar Sakarya community have a growing Principe’s recent view of Robert need for shelter. Their plea for Boyle as not entirely divorced from Colloquia, Symposia, and assistance appears in this issue of the Seminars alchemical thought. 3 Newsletter, affording us an opportunity to help our fellow Several announcements bear Competitions, scholars in true need. Please do what highlighting. HOPOI who have been 4 Calls for Papers/Proposals you can. concerned about the unavailability of classic HOPOS-related works should Electronic Resources, This appeal is a natural extension of be cheered by a request from the distinctly international character Journals, Books Published Thoemmes Press editor Kirsten 4 the HOPOS Newsletter has taken on Robertson for suggestions and these past few issues. This reflects proposals for publications in this area. Jobs, Fellowships, Grants, the international flavor of the HOPOS Let us also take note of the and Awards, 5 Working Group—rather fitting for a semisequicentennial of the HSS, and Announcements scholarly group whose formative the PSA’s selection of a new Request for Assistance transactions have been through an newsletter editor (Malcolm Forster) electronic mailing list. One sign of —and extend our congratulations. 6 the flowering internationalism of our scholarly work is the upcoming Finally, let us not rest in our efforts to Regional maps of HOPOS HOPOS 2000 conference, to be activity and infrastructure: improve upon the Newsletter. The 6 hosted by the University of Vienna. current format is apparently popular Ireland A reminder concerning this exciting but why not consider other features Book Reviews event appears on page two. for the future, such as notes and 13 comments, bibliographic surveys, or Looking backward, David Spurett syllabi? Please provide feedback! The History of Philosophy of offers a report on the annual Science (HOPOS) Dubrovnik philosophy of science Cheers, Working Group conference. This conference has Saul Fisher http://scistud.umkc.edu/hopos resisted a great deal of manmade havoc and trouble in recent times, and ! ......

Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

mortar emplacements in action on For information concerning the 1999 Dubrovnik hills overlooking Dubrovnik, though, conference, contact James Robert and in any event the period passed Brown (University of Toronto) at: Philosophy of without incident in Croatia. [email protected].

Science Conference The conference was a great success. David Spurrett The papers were generally of high Departments of Philosophy A Report quality and covered a wide range of University of Natal, Durban and problems and approaches. Further, in King's College, London. Between April 12 and 17 of this year the all-too-rare absence of parallel [email protected] I attended the annual philosophy of sessions (even though it meant ! science conference at the Inter- hearing two papers on Saturday University Centre in Dubrovnik, morning) the level of discussion was Croatia, for the first time. The Inter- also high, and in time took on the HOPOS 2000 University Centre in Dubrovnik holds quality of a short intense seminar as a range of conferences and courses in we all got to know one another better, University of Vienna many fields every year, but the and had more and more common philosophy of science conference has points of reference and shared debate. The History of Philosophy of Science a special place in the programme. It Finally, it was a pleasure to attend a Working Group will hold its Third has been held every year without fail International Conference at the th conference where every single paper since 1974, making this year the 25 was heard in a full 90 minute session, University of Vienna, in July 2000. anniversary. The original conference allowing plenty of time for questions, The conference is being organized was opened by Werner Heisenberg. discussion and debate. together with the Institute Vienna There were times when it was the Circle and the Center for largest annual philosophy of science Given my own interests and International and Interdisciplinary conference in Europe. specializations, I found these papers Studies (ZIIS) of the University of to be especially stimulating and Vienna. This year the themes of the memorable: ‘What's Right about conference were (1) Rationality, and Formalism’ (James Robert Brown, For further information, contact (2) The Sciences: Natural and Social. Toronto), ‘Balancing Acts: Rational Michael Heidelberger Conference participants came from a Agency and Efficacious Action’ ([email protected] wide range of countries and (Mary Tiles, Hawaii), ‘Nativism, berlin.de) or Friedrich Stadler institutions, including Canada, the Defeasability and A Priori ([email protected]). The US, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Knowledge’ (Ben Young, conference website is at: Slovenia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Edinburgh), ‘Historicism and http://hhobel.phl.univie.ac.at/wk Russia, South Africa, the UK and, of Philosophy of Science’ (Andrew course, Croatia itself. ! Reynolds, Harvard), ‘Rational Mathematical Change’ (Jean-Pierre For those who haven’t been, Marquis, Montreal), and ‘Living in News of the Dubrovnik is an astonishingly the “Space of Reasons”: The beautiful city, the old part of which is “Rationality Debate” Revisited’ profession. a charming stone haven with no (David Davies, McGill). The vehicular traffic and a disarming majority of the papers focused, Call for Reports. charm. This year’s conference fell broadly, on rationality. A wider The Newsletter features occasional, near the beginning of the NATO debate ensued over the course of concise reports on conferences of bombardment of parts of former conference regarding excesses of interest to HOPOI. If you are Yugoslavia, which resulted in a great relativism and claims for rationality interested in writing such reports, deal of cancelled trips on the part of or realism. A selection of papers please contact the Editor. nervous tourists. In fact, at least at from the conference is forthcoming in the beginning of the week it seemed the journal “International Studies in like the conference was the only the Philosophy of Science”. Conference and Talk activity in town which involved visitors, except for journalists en I left with a firm resolve to attend Calendar. route to or from other parts of the next year, when the themes will be • region. It takes more than a war two (1) Causality, Laws, and Explanation, October 1-2, 1999, University of countries away to stop a conference (2) Philosophy of Biology and, given Oklahoma which has been held with snipers and the timing, (3) 100 Years of Quanta...... 2 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

18th Annual Mephistos Conference. The Rutgers Center for Cognitive • August 25-28, 2000, Cardiff The annual MePHiSToS graduate Science and the Hang Seng Centre for University. student conference focuses on the Cognitive Studies (University of ‘The Demarcation Socialised: Or, history, philosophy, and sociology of Sheffield) will sponsor the first of 2 How Can We Recognise Science science, technology, and medicine. conferences on The Cognitive Basis When We See It?’. For information, For information on Mephistos of Science. For information go to go to conferences, follow these links: http://philosophy.rutgers.edu/cbs- http://www.cf.ac.uk/socsi/research/ke 1996—University of Toronto— conference or contact Stephen Stich s/milquin.html or contact Robert http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~mephi ([email protected]) or Gary C. Evans at [email protected]. sto/meph96/ Bartlett ([email protected]). 1997—UCLA— Colloquia, Symposia, and http://scow.gslis.ucla.edu/students_m • November 26-27, 1999, Institut -z/mephisto/HTML/home.html Henri Poincaré, Paris Seminars. 1998—University of Minnesota— “Journées Ernest Coumet: Histoire http://home.att.net/~Olorin/mephistos des jeux, jeux de l’histoire”. • Centre Alexandre Koyré /meph2.htm Organized by the Centre Alexandre Research seminar “Formation des 1999—Univ. of Oklahoma— Koyré, EHESS and Centre savoirs au début de l’époque http://aftermath.math.ou.edu/~jjwhite international de Synthèse. For moderne: Humanistes, Géomètres, /Mephistos/index.html information, contact Sophie Roux Mécaniciens”. Pavillon Chevreul, 57, ([email protected]). rue Cuvier 75231, Paris, France. For • October 31-November 2, 1999 information, contact Sophie Roux Université de Genève, • December 2-4, 1999, Max ([email protected]); or Switzerland Planck Institute for the History of Hélène Vérin International Colloquium on Bolzano Science, Berlin ([email protected]). and Frege. For information, contact History of chemistry research group Kevin Mulligan workshop: Types of Paper Tools and • Centre Koyré and REHSEIS ([email protected]). Traditions of Representation in the 1999-2000 Seminar “Histoire des History of Chemistry. sciences, histoire du texte”. The • November 2-4, 1999, Florence, Wilhelmstrasse 44 (near U2 themes for the current academic year Italy Underground station Mohrenstrasse) are “Figures Mathématiques, Objets The Florence Center for the History Berlin. To attend, please contact et Outils de Recherche” and “Formes and Philosophy of Science and the Gisela Marquardt (marq@mpiwg- de Textes Scientifiques”. REHSEIS, rd Pittsburgh Center for Philosophy of berlin.mpg.de) by November 15. 37 rue Jacob, 75005 Paris 3 Floor, Science will hold an international Salle 307. For information, contact workshop, Analytical And • December 4-5, 1999, University Karine Chemla Continental Aspects Of Logical of Wisconsin, Milwaukee ([email protected]). Empiricism: Historical And Midwest Seminar In The History Of Contemporary Perspectives, in the Early Modern Philosophy, Autumn • Archives Poincaré (Université de Sala della Presidenza della Facoltà di Meeting. Room 118, Curtin Hall, Nancy 2). Lettere e Filosofia, Piazza Downer Ave, University of 1999-2000 Seminar of the Archives Brunelleschi 4. For information Wisconsin, Milwaukee campus. Poincaré, Room J 303, Campus contact Elena Castellani Lettres-Sciences Humaines, 23 ([email protected]). • December 6, 1999, Università di Boulevard Albert 1er, Nancy 54000 Roma Tre France. For information, contact • November 3-7, 1999, Pittsburgh, Robert Clifton (University of Philippe Nabonnand Pennsylvania Pittsburgh) will give a talk, ([email protected] The History of Science Society “Suspended in Language: How nancy2.fr). Semisesquicentennial Anniversary Algebraic Quantum Theory 1999 Annual Meeting will be held at Elucidates Bohr's Copenhagen • Università di Genova. the Westin William Penn. For Interpretation”, sponsored by the 1999-2000 Lecture series, philosophy information go to philosophy department of Roma Tre, of science section, philosophy http://depts.washington.edu/hssexec/a Via Magenta 5, Aula IV, 4th floor, 4 department. For information go to at nnual/hss99.html. pm. For information, contact Mauro http://www.lettere.unige.it/sif/struttur Dorato ([email protected]). e/9/epi/index.htm or contact Carlo • November 5-7, 1999, Rutgers Penco ([email protected]). Of University, New Brunswick, NJ particular note is a conference on realism (November 29-30). For ...... 3 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group information, go to Harry Marks ([email protected]). • Malcolm Forster (University of http://www.lettere.unige.it/sif/struttur Include the author, title, and complete Wisconsin) is the new editor of the e/9/risorse/ge99.htm. citation with a brief description of the PSA Newsletter. His homepage is at text's significance. To review texts, http://philosophy.wisc.edu/forster. Competitions. indicate titles you are interested in Please send information for future reviewing, respond to postings of issues of the PSA Newsletter to unclaimed nominations, or send a • Lakatos Prize, 1998 [email protected]. note to Mark Reger indicating an The 1998 winners of the Lakatos interest in writing reviews (specifying Prize were Jeffrey Bub (Interpreting Journals. your areas of expertise). Include The Quantum World, Cambridge institutional affiliation, mailing University Press) and Deborah Mayo • Alliage (Issue 39, Summer 1999) address, and phone number. Reviews (Error and the Growth of Culture-Science-Technique. must be between 750-1500 words and Experimental Knowledge, University The new issue features a newly follow guidelines for H-Net Reviews. of Chicago Press). For the full translated text (in French) of Paul Nominations will be accepted through announcement from the LSE (with Feyerabend. For information, go to November 1, 1999. acceptance lectures) go to http://www.tribunes.com/tribune/allia http://www.lse.ac.uk/events/philos- ge/accueil.htm. • Thoemmes Press seeks ideas and 17-03-99.htm. proposals for book series. Thoemmes • Science & Education (Volume 8, Press is a small publisher in Bristol, • BSHS Dingle Prize number 4). UK, specializing in primary source The 1999 British Society for the A special issue commemorates the material in the history of ideas. They History of Science (BSHS) Dingle 20th anniversary of the publication of seek ideas and proposals for a series Prize will be awarded to the best Alan Chalmers' book, What Is This on the philosophy and history of book in history of science published Thing Called Science. For science, which will focus on in English between January 1996 and information, contact Michael R. reprinting classic works in the field. December 1998. For information, go Matthews Publishing plans include reprints of to the BSHS website: ([email protected]). Helmholtz's Treatise on Physiological http://www.man.ac.uk/Science_Engin Optics (definitive 1924/5 edition) and eering/CHSTM/bshs or contact Jeff • The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Foundations of Chemistry Hughes at Elements (Thomas Little Heath, Volume 1, Issues 2 and 3 are [email protected]. trans., 1908). For information about now available.

Thoemmes Press go to Issue 1 can still be ordered from the Calls For http://www.thoemmes.com. publishers. Go to http://www.wkap.nl/journals/foch or Papers/Proposals. http://www.cco.caltech.edu/~scerri

• Electronic Resources. October 12-15, 2000, St. Louis • The Leibniz Review University, St. Louis, MO • The 1999 issue (vol. 9) of The Writing The Past, Claiming The The upcoming XXI International History of Science Congress (Mexico Leibniz Review honors the memory Future: Women And Gender In of Margaret Dauler Wilson, past Science, Medicine, And Technology. 2001) has launched a website at www.smhct.org. president of the Society and a For information, contact Charlotte G. distinguished scholar in early modern Borst (Department of History, Saint • studies. To obtain this special Louis University) at [email protected]. The Institut d’Histoire et de Philosophie des Sciences et des memorial issue contact Glenn Hartz ([email protected]) by December 1, • A Century's Retrospective: The Techniques (of the Université de Paris 1) has a new website at 1999. For information, go to H-Ideas Year 2000 Book Review http://orpheus- Project http://panoramix.univ- paris1.fr/IHPST. 1.ucsd.edu/philo/leibniz/leibrev.htm. The H-Ideas Editors invite contributions to a series of scholarly • review essays of intellectual history The Bibliothèque Nationale Books published. and the history of ideas published in Française (BNF) website th (http://gallica.bnf.fr) is useful for * Benoit, Lelita Oliveira, Sociologia the 20 century. To nominate texts, th send a list of titles to Mark Reger, H- searching 19 c images and texts of Comteana - Genese e devir. Discurso Ideas Book Review Editor books and journals from France. Editorial, Sao Paulo, Brasil, 1999, ([email protected]) and to 428 p. For information, contact [email protected] ...... 4 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

* Imbert, Claude. Pour une histoire The Department of History at between CHF and the Edelstein de la logique. PUF, 1999. Swarthmore College seeks a Mellon Center for History and Philosophy of Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in Science, Technology, and Medicine * Lecourt, Dominique (ed.). the History of Science, Technology, in Jerusalem. Dictionnaire d'histoire et philosophie or Medicine. Geographic field is Applicants must address the des sciences. PUF, 2000. open, but focus on the 19th and 20th relevance of CHF and Edelstein centuries is preferred. Application Center resources to research plans, * Maar, Juergen Heinrich, Pequena deadline is February 1, 2000. For submit a cv and financial statement, História da Química - Parte I – Dos information contact Professor Robert and arrange for two letters of Primórdios a Lavoisier, 848 pages. Weinberg at reference to be sent to the 50,00 Brazilian reals. For [email protected]. Foundation. The deadline is information, contact Juergen Heinrich December 1, 1999, and all materials Maar - Caixa Postal 5043 - 88040- • Université Catholique de should be submitted to Leo Slater, 970, Florianópolis, SC Brazil Louvain, Belgium, post in Chemical Heritage Foundation philosophy of human sciences. ([email protected]). * Paty, Michel and Emile Malet Send applications to: Recteur de (ed.s), Aux frontieres de la science, l'Université, Place de l'Université 1, • Philosophy Department, 1999, 222 p., Editions Passages, 17 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, Universidade Estadual de rue Simone Weil, 75013 Paris. before December 15, 1999. Londrina (Brazil). Candidates must speak and write Part-time professor (20 hours) in * Vasconi, Paola, Sistema delle French. A detailed description of the ‘epistemologia’ (philosophy of scienze naturali e unità della post is available from the Doyen de la science). For information contact conoscenza nell'ultimo Kant, Faculté at: [email protected]. Eduardo Barra at [email protected]. Florence, Olschki, 1999. • APS Slater Fellowship in History • Program Director for Science * Vinciguerra, Lucien, Langage, of 20th C Physical Sciences. and Technology Studies, visibilité, différence. Histoire du The Slater fellowship is for doctoral National Science Foundation. discours mathématique de l'âge candidates to spend the year at an The Program Director provides classique au 19e siècle, Vrin, American university or other leadership and is responsible for “Mathesis”, Paris 1999. appropriate research institution, and program administration and use the American Philosophical development, and represents STS to Jobs, Fellowships, Grants Society Library. The fellowship the NSF, other US Federal science carries a stipend of $12,000; tenure of agencies, and the Administration. and Awards. the fellowship usually coincides with The position will begin preferably in the academic year. Applications are August, 2000. For information Note: These announcements are due December 1. Forms are available contact William P. Butz, Director of truncated in the interests of space and at the website, www.amphilsoc.org. the Division of Social and Economic lack crucial application information. Sciences ([email protected]), Michael Please contact any relevant parties • Sokal, Program Director, Science and listed here in advance of actually Assistant Professor, University applying, and be advised that these of Kentucky, Lexington KY Technology Studies notices are not advertisements and do Joint appointment in the Philosophy ([email protected]), or Rachelle D. not meet the requirements of formal Department and Honors Program, Hollander, coordinator of the cluster notification on the part of prospective beginning August, 2000. Teaching housing the STS program employers. responsibilities include philosophy ([email protected]). • French University posts. and history of science but the Maitre de conférence - Sections 17 research focus is on contemporary Announcements. (Philosophy) and 72 (History and issues in the philosophy of science. Philosophy of Science and Deadline is December 3. For • Alan Richardson offers these Engineering). For information, go to: information, contact Daniel Breazeale words on Burton Dreben, who http://www.education.gouv.fr/dpe/pu ([email protected]). died in July, 1999 at age 71: b992.htm. Dreben is known widely as the man • Chemical Heritage Foundation whom W.V. Quine thanked in every • Mellon Fellow in History of Fellowship 2000-2001. important piece he ever wrote (at Science, Technology, or The Edelstein International least post-1948 or so). Those of us Medicine, Swarthmore College. Fellowship is open to established who work in the history of analytic scholars; time will be divided philosophy have another reason to ...... 5 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group thank Dreben: He was the source of have been left homeless and are now charities, and according to US law, a much of the philosophical and living in simple tents or shelters. charity must be a US organization for historical nuance in our work. Those US citizens to deduct donations to it. of us who think about the importance We are struggling to keep our Your donation under this set of of logic in analytic philosophy, university functioning and continue conditions is all the more generous. especially, have found our task both its education and other services, deeper and richer thanks to ways of something which is extremely ! thinking that we owe ultimately to important for the future of the city Dreben, and more proximally to his and our students. But it is essential extraordinary students and colleagues that we first provide our homeless Regional maps of (Michael Friedman, Warren personnel with proper Goldfarb, Thomas Ricketts, Dan accommodations before we enter the HOPOS activity Isaacson, Rick Creath, W.D. Hart, cold winter season. We have now Peter Hylton, and many, many others started two projects to partially fulfill and infrastructure. among them) with whom he was so this urgent requirement: liberal with his time and mind. I, Ireland (No. 3). personally, was the recipient of such (1) On the university campus, 25 generosity when, at the CPA foundations for two-flat buildings are Report on HOPOS-related resources meetings in 1998, Dreben not only already finished. Each could in Ireland. gave an already legendary three hour accommodate 2 families. The cost to lecture (punctuated by far more complete one of these flats is The recent economic boom in the positive references to my earlier talk approximately $20,000. “Celtic Tiger” has caught many than I deserved), followed by a five people by surprise. The historical hour dinner, but also made a point of (2) On the campus we also have a image of Ireland as generally giving me a copy of every essay he site to accommodate 500 projected at home and abroad is not had published. prefabricated buildings, each having a one in which technology has played living area of 30 m2 (about 323 square any significant part. The scenery, feet), which could serve as a shelter greenness, widespread literary and Request for to one family. The cost of each of musical abilities, traditional religious these is approximately $5,000. devotion, stout and whiskey, craic Assistance – (‘good fun’), horses, and gaelic We earnestly invite you to help our games all contribute to Ireland’s Sakarya University university by financially contributing image as lovely but rather quaint to these projects or by any other backwater. of Turkey means which will help meet this urgent need. Suddenly, Ireland is a world leader in A Call for Urgent Help computer development. There is a Prof. Dr. Ismail Calli, Rector frisson in the air and a renewed You have probably heard about the Prof. Dr. Mehmet Durman, Vice confidence. Emigration is turning to appalling extent of damage caused by Rector ([email protected]) immigration, house prices are the recent earthquake that took place Sakarya University, Esentepe Campus, soaring, and there are new cars and in the Marmara region of Turkey. 54187 Adapazar1, TURKEY mobile phones everywhere (or nearly Our university is located in the city of http://www.sau.edu.tr everywhere—some have still to enjoy Sakarya in this region where the the benefits of the boom). And, if damage was most devastating, so far A suitable nonprofit is being sought peace in the North can be maintained, leaving about four thousand as a vehicle for your donation. In the the future looks bright indeed. inhabitants dead and thousands of meantime, you may make urgently So how can a sleepy Ireland, others in the city homeless and needed contributions directly to these traditionally with pigs and chickens jobless. bank accounts of Sakarya University: in the kitchen (not to mention Yapi Kredi Bankasi Adapazari Branch, leprechauns and banshees), suddenly Our university—with about 18,000 Account no.(for US dollars): 3010534-6 appear equipped as a fully fledged students and 1300 staff—has also or member of the international high tech been extensively damaged from the Emlak Bankasi, Adapazari Branch, society? A major reason is that Account no. (for US dollars): 00547843 disaster. Fortunately, the summer Ireland has a surprisingly intercession prevented fatalities. Yet distinguished tradition of scientific Please be advised that these bank almost 70% of our university’s and technological inventiveness, a accounts are not tax deductible academic and administrative staff ...... 6 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group sub-culture which has survived for daughter of the postmaster at University was held from 1849-1932 three centuries. Newbridge, County Kildare. It had by two Irishmen—Sir George Gabriel taken the Society 285 years to Stokes and Sir Joseph Larmor—both Of course, to some extent it depends recognise that women could achieve of whom had achieved the “senior on our definition of Irish. Many, in science (Marjorie Stephenson, the wrangler” distinction (top of the though by no means all, of our biochemist, was admitted on the same final-year Mathematics class) at historic scientific achievers and day but Lonsdale comes before Cambridge as students. inventors have been from the Stephenson in the alphabet, so Protestant tradition and/or have made Kathleen was first!). Such stories remain largely unknown their achievements abroad. It is to today’s Irish residents. Our strange that they are not always To be an FRS is indeed a distinction, scientific and technological history regarded as Irish, when many of our but to be elected President of that and achievements have not received literary geniuses (like Yeats, Shaw, Society in the 19th century was to any great attention—and very little and Beckett) also came from this have reached the pinnacle of has been done to show interested tradition and are wholeheartedly international scientific recognition. visitors and intelligent tourists that embraced. From 1849 to 1895 no less than three there is this aspect of Irish history and Irish men held that post. Sir William culture to be demonstrated and If you visit the Science Museum in Parsons, astronomer, engineer, and enjoyed. London, go to the Heat and third Earl of Rosse, from Birr, County Temperature Gallery, and you will Offaly, was President from 1849 to So where do you go if you want to find featured in a space of about 25 1854. Sir George Gabriel Stokes get some idea of the history of this meters a substantial display on the (1819-1903), mathematician and richness? It is best to start in Dublin, work of Belfast-born William theoretical physicist from Skreen, capital of the Republic of Ireland Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), County Sligo, was President from (also conveniently close to Northern and a smaller display featuring 1885 to 1890. And William Ireland). another Belfast scientist, Thomas Thomson, physicist, entrepreneur, Andrews (1813-1885). In the main and Baron Kelvin of Largs (hailing Trinity College Dublin cases, the work of the son of yet from Belfast), held the post from (http://www.tcd.ie) another Belfast family, Joseph Black 1890 to 1895. In addition, G.G. Ireland’s oldest University—Dublin (1728-1799) is described. In addition Stokes was Secretary of the Society University—more generally known to this impressive Belfast presence, for no less than 31 years—from 1854 by the name of its only College, aspects of the work of John Tyndall to 1885. His wife, Susannah Trinity College Dublin (TCD), dates (1820-1890—from Leighlinbridge, Robinson, from Armagh, was from 1591, and is located on a County Carlow), and John Joly daughter of Rev. Thomas Romney beautiful campus right in the heart of (1857-1933—from Clonbulloge, Robinson (1793-1882) inventor of the the city. Its graduates include: County Offaly) are featured. Further famous anemometer. The wife and George Berkeley (1685-1753); the along the same gallery, there is a close collaborator of Sir William mathematician and erstwhile poet, large display about the Leviathan of Huggins (1824-1910) was Margaret William Rowan Hamilton (1805- Parsonstown—the massive reflecting Lindsay (1848-1915) of Dublin; 1865), whose quaternians are used in telescope—built in Birr, County together they were pioneers in the guidance systems of spacecraft; Offaly, by William Parsons (1800- astrophysics. Sir William was the theoretical physicist, George 1867). The one surviving 72” President of the Royal Society from Johnstone Stoney (1826-1911), who diameter speculum metal mirror on 1900 to 1906. Sir Joseph Larmor introduced the term ‘electron’ in display with this exhibit continues to (1857-1942), from Magheragall, 1891; George Francis FitzGerald amaze. County Antrim was Secretary to the (1851-1901), of Lorentz-FitzGerald Society from 1901-1912. There was contraction fame, who encouraged The Royal Society is arguably the thus a very distinct Irish flavor to the the study of radio waves; John Joly scientific society with the most Society during the second half of the (1857-1933), polymath, inventor of distinguished history of all. One of 19th century and the early years of the the steam calorimeter, and the first the key players in its foundation in 20th—years of dramatic scientific practical method of colour 1660 was the Hon. Robert Boyle advance in which Fellows of the photography (also one of the first to (1827-1691) from Lismore in County Royal Society played such pivotal appreciate the great age of the earth); Waterford, “the son of the Earl of roles. Henry Horatio Dixon (1869-1953), Cork and the Father of Chemistry”. the first to explain how sap rises in The first woman to be admitted FRS Indeed it is a remarkable fact that the plants in defiance of gravity (in 1945) was X-ray crystallographer Lucasian Professorship of (evaporation from leaves and not Kathleen Lonsdale (1903-1971), Mathematics at Cambridge capillary attraction as the driving ...... 7 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group force); and physics Nobel prize now moved further out from the acre central park—go see the flowers winner (1951) Ernest Walton (1903- center of town (to 10 Burlington and ducks), and then right down 1995), who “split the atom” with Road). Schrödinger, a Nobel prize Kildare Street. In the center of a fine John Cockcroft in Cambridge winner (1933), became an Irish complex of buildings is Leinster University in 1932. citizen in 1948. Dunsink Observatory House, home of Dail Eireann, with (see below) is also now part of the the main building of the National TCD has a remarkable library, and DIAS. Museum on one side, and that of the the original library building, with its National Library on the other. You wonderful “Long Room” has also on The Natural History Museum, are almost back to TCD at this stage, display the famous illuminated Merrion Square and the two finest libraries in the manuscript The Book of Kells, a must (http://indigo.ie/~nmi1/museum/nathi country are within a few hundred for any tourist. A few instruments st1.html; under construction) yards of each other, so bibliophiles and apparatuses are displayed in the Moving round the corner from the don’t have too far to move to get the physics, mechanical engineering, and DIAS (and advisedly calling into see best available. The National Museum civil engineering departments. the fine collections in the National has wonderful collections, most Gallery of Ireland which you pass on notably the National Treasury TCD Department of Philosophy the way) you will find the Natural (craftwork of early christian Ireland), (http://www.tcd.ie/Philosophy/index.ht History Museum. This makes no prehistoric gold, and artefacts of m). Research interests include history pretension to be an up-to-date state- Viking Ireland. The collections in the of ideas (David Berman, of-the art science center: Instead it “decorative arts” (ceramics, silver, [email protected]); and philosophy of prides itself on being a well preserved glass, furniture, etc) have recently science (Paul O’Grady, 19th century museum, and is well moved to the banks of the Liffey, to [email protected]). worth a visit. It occupies grounds Collins Barracks, near the massive with Leinster House, now home of Phoenix Park. Of great interest is the The Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Dail Eireann, the Irish parliament collection of scientific instruments of Street (http://www.ria.ie) house, formerly headquarters of the the Museum—the finest collection in Close to TCD is the Royal Irish Royal Dublin Society, although its the island of Ireland—but Academy (RIA), founded in 1785, main entrance is on the far side (on unfortunately it is not at present on and now housed in a fine restored Kildare Street). display, and only a few items are building near the Mansion House (the exhibited in other displays. official residence of the Lord Mayor). Government Buildings, Upper The Academy is the premier Merrion Street Zoological Gardens (“Dublin Zoo”) academic body for the island of Beside the Natural History Museum (http://www.dublinzoo.ie) Ireland, and most of Ireland’s are the recently refurbished Those with more biologically- achieving scientists have been Government Buildings. These used centered scientific interests might like Members (MRIA). Many of those, to be the Royal College of Science to go on from Collins Barracks to like Richard Kirwan (1733-1812) and and, more recently, the Faculty of visit the Zoological Gardens in the William Rowan Hamilton, who rose Engineering of University College Phoenix Park (which also contains to become President, have their Dublin. At the sides of the main the residences of the President of portraits on display. The Academy entrance are statues to Robert Boyle Ireland and the Ambassador of the has a fine library, part of it housed in (1627-1691, born in Lismore Castle, USA—not usually considered as an attractive Meeting Room. County Waterford), and William items in the Zoo’s collections). Rowan Hamilton, born in Dublin “at Dublin Institute for Advanced the stroke of midnight” (so he Dunsink Observatory Studies, 5 Merrion Square claimed) on August 3-4, 1805. (http://www.dunsink.dias.ie) (http://www.dias.ie) Further out from the city, near Near the back of TCD is the great The National Museum Castleknock, is Dunsink Observatory, Georgian Merrion Square. Here can (http://indigo.ie/~nmi1/museum/kilda which was founded in 1785, and was be found part of Dublin Institute for re2.html) and The National Library formerly part of Trinity College Advanced Studies (DIAS), best (http://www.heanet.ie/natlib), Kildare Dublin. It is now attached to the remembered as the workplace of Street DIAS. It is best known as the home Erwin Schrödinger from 1940-1956 The Natural History Museum is part of Sir William Rowan Hamilton and Walter Heitler (1904-1981) from of the National Museum, which has (1805-1865), Ireland’s most eminent 1941-1949—although they actually its main premises on Kildare Street. mathematician. It was while walking worked in 65 Merrion Square, then To get there, walk up Upper Merrion from Dunsink to the RIA (of which home of the DIAS School of Street (away from TCD), turn right to he was then President) that the basic Theoretical Physics. That school has St Stephen’s Green (a massive 22 quaternian formula occurred to him, ...... 8 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group and he scratched it on Brougham the phlogiston theory (and so give (1860-1900), author of The Theory of Bridge on the Royal Canal in case he birth to modern chemistry); the Light (1890) and The Theory of Heat should forget it. Other incumbents of geologist and geological cartographer (1894), and discoverer of the the Directorship of the Observatory Sir Richard Griffith (1784-1878); and anomalous Zeeman effect in (for some of its history called ‘Royal the chemist Sir Robert Kane (1809- spectroscopy. Unfortunately he died Astronomer’ in distinction to the 1890). It was in the laboratories of at the age of 40—otherwise he would English ‘Astronomer Royal’) the society that Edmund Davy (1785- undoubtedly be better known. included Rev. John Brinkley, (from 1857—cousin of Humphrey) first 1790 to 1827), Sir Robert Stawell prepared what is now called The physics and electrical Ball (from 1874 to 1892), and Sir acetylene, and James Emerson engineering departments have Edmund Whittaker (from 1906 to Reynolds (1844-1920)—the world’s scientific instruments on display, with 1912). first Professor of Analytical more (especially in physics) in Chemistry (1872)—prepared storage. The Observatory is in the process of thiourea. In the Society’s Scientific being refurbished. Close to the main Transactions in 1891, George UCD Department of Philosophy building is a restored refracting Johnstone Stoney (1826-1911) (www.ucd.ie/~philosop/index.html). telescope built in 1868 by Thomas introduced the term “electron”. The Research interests include philosophy Grubb (1800-1878) to house the Society also pioneered the use of of science (Maria Baghramian, Cauchoix 12” lens donated to the radon gas for the treatment of cancer [email protected]). University of Dublin by Sir James through its Irish Radium Institute, South. The Dublin firm of Grubb and founded in 1914. The National Botanic Gardens his son Sir Howard (1844-1931) (http://www.visit.ie/dublin/top_at/21_ became the most eminent of Ireland’s The Society has recently extensively nationalbotanic.htm) many instrument makers, exporting refurbished its premises, and its Out in Glasnevin on the north side of telescopes and other optical attractive members’ rooms contain its the City are the Botanic Gardens equipment all over the world. The library (though most of the best books (founded by the RDS in 1795), well firm became Grubb Parsons in 1925 went to the National Library under an known for its plants and its when the taken over by Sir Charles 1877 Act) and displays of historic pioneering curvilinear glasshouses, Parsons (1854-1931), Ireland’s most scientific instruments. It also has built by Richard Turner (1798-1881, famous engineer (see Birr below). some fine portraits, one of the best probably born in Leixlip). The being of Stoney (in the Council largest of the glasshouses has recently Royal Dublin Society Chamber). been magnificently restored. Turner (http://www.rds.ie/foundation/index.h also built the Great Palm House at tml) University College Dublin Kew Gardens in London. Back in the city, on an easy bus or (www.ucd.ie) DART ride from Trinity College, is Beyond the RDS, but still in the Belfast and The Queen’s University the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), Dublin 4 district, is the spacious Complex (QUB) founded in 1731 “for the promotion campus at Belfield of University (http://www.qub.ac.uk) of husbandry, manufactures and other College Dublin—successor to the Although well known to be under a useful arts and sciences”. It has a Catholic University of Ireland, the different jurisdiction, Belfast is most distinguished history, being Royal College of Science, and to conveniently close (100 miles) to involved in the founding of many of some of the professorships of the Dublin, easily accessible by a good the country’s cultural and scientific RDS. Opening in its present form in rail service from Connolly Station institutions—the National Library, 1908, it started to move from the city near the center of the city. Belfast National Museum, Botanic Gardens, center to Belfield in 1964—Science thrived due to its industrial heritage College of Science (which evolved being the first Faculty to transfer. (shipbuilding [including the Titanic— into part of University College The transfer is still incomplete (with the design, not the construction, was Dublin) and Veterinary College. medicine, veterinary medicine and at fault], linen, and ropes) and has a civil engineering still to move from fine scientific record. For many years the RDS employed other locations). UCD is one of the professors to give instruction outside constituent Colleges of the National Belfast’s most famous scientific son the University system, and among its University of Ireland (NUI), the was Sir William Thomson, Baron famous officers or employees were: others being in Cork, Galway, and Kelvin of Largs (1824-1907), son of the chemist, mineralogist, and Maynooth. James Thomson, Professor of meteorologist Richard Kirwan (1733- Mathematics at the Royal Academical 1812), who encouraged Antoine Perhaps UCD’s most famous Institution there (the Queen’s College Lavoisier to publish his refutation of scientific son was Thomas Preston wasn’t founded until 1845)...... 9 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

William’s family moved to Glasgow Keir Building across the road from The Ulster Museum, across the road in 1832, and he received his the QUB main building. from the David Keir Building, has on education there and at Cambridge view collections in biology and University, returning to Glasgow as Today, QUB is home to departments geology. It has a good exhibit on Professor of Natural Philosophy for of philosophy and the history and ‘industrial archaeology’ but very few 53 years. Yet his Ulster family philosophy of science: scientific instruments. background was of profound influence to his personality, work QUB Department of Philosophy (Room The Giant’s Causeway ethic, and hands-on approach to G1, 15 University Square). Research (http://www.northantrim.com/Giants. science. For his conception of the interests include history of physics and html) successful transatlantic cable of 1866 psychology, and islamic intellectual Rather far away (but a must if you (running from Valentia Island of history (Robert E. Hall,. can possibly make the time) is the County Kerry to Trinity Bay, [email protected]); and philosophy of amazing Giant’s Causeway on the Newfoundland) he won knighthood in science and mathematics (Dr. Alan J. North Coast, near Bushmills, home of that year. A keen yachtsman, he was Weir, [email protected]). The Belfast the famous whiskey (the use of which actually aboard the Great Eastern, the branch of the Royal Institute of adds greatly to the visit experience). Philosophy works with the QUB ship which laid the cable. William’s Bushmills, in turn, is not far from department to host a speaker program. older brother, James (1822-1892), For information, contact the school Coleraine, home of the main campus returned to Belfast and was Professor secretary, Mary Emmerson of Northern Ireland’s other of Civil Engineering at the Queen’s ([email protected]). University, the University of Ulster College, from 1857-1873. William is (which also has campuses at buried at Westminster Abbey in QUB Department of HPS Newtownabbey near Belfast, and at London—but a Statue in the Belfast (http://www.qub.ac.uk/pas/hps). Magee in County Derry). Botanic Gardens states: “He Research interests include history of elucidated the laws of nature for the environmental sciences and evolution A major tourist attraction and service of man”. studies (P J Bowler, Dept of Social geological mecca, the Causeway is Anthropology); ancient and medieval reckoned to have some 40,000 Queen’s College is now The Queen’s science (R E Hall, Dept of Philosophy); polygonal basalt columns—a quite University of Belfast (QUB or and history of medicine; 19th c physical remarkable sight. “Queen’s”), and is close to the center sciences and technology (I R Morus, of the city in a fine complex, Dept of Social Anthropology). Armagh Observatory neighbor to the Botanic Gardens and (http://web.arm.ac.uk) Ulster Museum. Another Belfast-born scientist, who One may travel from Belfast to graduated at Queen’s in 1948, was Dublin (or vice versa) via the historic Belfast was the family home of John S. Bell (1928-1990). Whereas city of Armagh, seat of the Primates Joseph Black (1728-1799), who also EPR experiments are intended to of the Roman Catholic and Church of made his name in Scotland, holding demonstrate how predicted outcomes Ireland (Protestant Anglican) professorships in Glasgow and of QM experiments can be realized churches, each with his own Edinburgh Universities. He is through a hidden variables theory that Cathedral and “palace”. An outpost credited as the founder of pneumatic sustains locality, Bell’s theorem of QUB has recently been established chemistry and modern quantitative demonstrates constraints on outcomes there also. chemistry. of such experiments, such that one cannot satisfy all the predictions of For historians of science, the Perhaps the most famous of Queen’s QM. Insofar as the motivation for Observatory, located on College Hill, professors was Belfast-born Thomas EPR is sustaining realism, the choice is a prime site. Founded in 1791 by Andrews (1813-1885), Vice- is then forced between realism and Richard Robinson (Protestant President of the newly formed locality, as Shimony and others have Archbishop of Armagh), its most Queen’s College, and Professor of noted—that is, we can have realism famous Director was Dublin-born Chemistry there from 1849 until without locality, or else non-locality. Rev. Thomas Romney Robinson 1879. He is known above all for Much debate has ensued, to which (1793-1882—not related to Richard). identifying a critical temperature for HOPOI are no strangers. The latter Robinson published Places gases above which they cannot be of 5,354 Stars (1859) and invented liquified by pressure alone. Andrews The Ulster Museum (tel: +44-1232- the four cup anemometer for also demonstrated that ozone was a 383000) measuring wind speed which, in its form of oxygen. Some of his (National Museums & Galleries of more modern three cup form, is still apparatuses are on display in the Northern Ireland) seen everywhere (the details were Chemistry Department in the David published in 1850)...... 10 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

The Observatory has a small but very To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Although not on the main roads interesting collection of historic Callan’s death, the present President, between Ireland’s principal cities, scientific instruments and clocks, Monsignor Dermot Farrell (a Birr is an essential stop-off for some of which came from the private graduate in Physics and anyone interested in the history of Observatory of King George III at Mathematics), has completely science. It is easy to go via Birr when Kew. The most impressive in the refurbished the College Museum, en route, for example, from Dublin to collection is the Equatorial by which now exhibits a small collection Cork (it is about 90 miles from Troughton of London, acquired for of ecclesiastical artefacts but also the Dublin). Armagh in 1795. One of the first finest public display of historic commissions (1833) for the firm of scientific instruments in the island of Right in the center of the Ireland, Birr Thomas Grubb of Dublin was a 15” Ireland, some dating from Callan’s has been the seat of the Parsons reflecting telescope. A planetarium days, and many more acquired since. family since the 17th century. In this was established near the Observatory If you are there, enjoy also the boggy place, where clear nights were in 1964. wonderful ambience of buildings and the exception rather than the rule, shrubs, and see the Chapel (ideally William Parsons (1800-1867) St Patrick’s College, Maynooth when a music student is playing Bach constructed what was for over 70 [National University of Ireland, on the organ). years the largest telescope in the Maynooth] (http://www.may.ie) world, a 72” reflector known as the Most people visiting Ireland will St Patrick’s College, which was a Leviathan of Parsonstown (the old want to go to the west coast to view constituent NUI College, bifurcated name for Birr). An amazing its outstanding Atlantic scenery. If recently, and is now separately engineering feat that used only local you are travelling from Dublin to the administered from NUI, Maynooth, labor, this telescope was designed to major city of the west, Galway, about which is developing a major campus resolve all the fuzzy bits in the sky 20 miles out of the city you will pass on the other side of the old Dublin- into discrete stars. That it did not do through Maynooth, location of the Galway road (a highway now so was the fault not of the telescope only Pontifical University in Ireland bypasses the town, so you could miss but of variety in the universe, in the and Britain, and the major seminary Maynooth if you don’t look out for form of unresolvable nebulae. for the training of Irish priests. the signs—but make sure you call in). Anyway, its users did discover the Founded in 1795, the College has a spiral shape of some of what are now fine historic scientific tradition. Maynooth Department of Philosophy. known as galaxies. Birr became a Research interests include philosophy center of pilgrimage for many Its most famous historical scientist of science (John J. Cleary, scientists, and the fame of the third was Rev. Nicholas Callan (1799- [email protected]). Earl was such that he became 1864), Professor of Natural President of the London Royal Philosophy from 1826-1864. His National University of Ireland, Society (from 1848-1854). The major claim to fame was as inventor Galway (http://www.nuigalway.ie) Leviathan has recently been in 1836 of the induction coil (it was One of the three Colleges of the old magnificently restored. The one not invented by Heinrick Ruhmkorff, Queen’s University of Ireland surviving speculum metal mirror, of although Ruhmkorff improved and founded in 1845 (the others were/are four tons weight, is in the Science commercialised it in the 1850s to his at Belfast and Cork), is now a Museum in London, but a new great financial advantage). Callan constituent NUI College. Among the aluminium mirror has just been was a brilliant if unorthodox Physics Professors there have been installed, and the telescope is now experimentalist, who also developed George Johnstone Stoney (1826- working for the first time since the batteries and patented a means of 1911—Professor from 1852 to 1857) early 1900s. preventing iron from rusting. and Sir Joseph Larmor (1857-1942— Needing sensitive “voltmeters” he Professor from 1880 to 1885). The eldest son of the third Earl, used “volunteer” seminarians, The physics department and, to a Laurence (1840-1908)—who in due rendering unconscious a future lesser extent, the engineering faculty, course became the fourth Earl— Archbishop of Dublin, and sending a have collections of historic scientific continued the astronomical work at future President of the College to the instruments, though few instruments the Birr Observatory, being best infirmary in the process. His best are on display. The campus also has known for his work on the heat of the th showpieces were tugs-of-war an attractive small 19 century moon. The youngest son of William between seminarians and his electro- geology museum, recently became Ireland’s greatest engineer— magnets (the latter would be winning refurbished. this was Sir Charles Parsons (1854- until he turned off the power) and 1931), inventor of the steam turbine electrocuting a turkey. Birr Castle engine, which transformed [sic] (http://www.birrcastle.com) ...... 11 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group electricity generation and marine Queen’s College Cork. He held this Sheehan, transport. position from 1849 until his death in http://www.dcu.ie/~comms/hsheehan/ 1864. At Cork he published An sheehan.htm). At Birr Castle new exhibition Investigation of the Laws of Thought • University College Galway galleries demonstrate and illustrate (1854). For a web-based biographical (www.ucg.ie). Research interests the tradition at Birr in astronomy, sketch of Boole, go to include philosophy of science engineering, photography and botany http://www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMat (Paschal F. O’Gorman). (the demesne has a fine collection of h/People/Boole. trees and shrubs). They also feature Bookstores. an exhibit on a cousin of William Arguably the most attractive part of a • Fred Hanna’s Bookshop. 27/29 Parsons, Mary Ward (née King 1827- generally attractive campus, is the Nassau Street, Dublin 1869), author of popular books on the gem of an observatory, the Crawford (http://www.hannas.ie). telescope and microscope in the Observatory, a purpose built tiny • Eason & Son Ltd (chain), O’Connell 1850s and 1860s. building housing telescopes and Street, Dublin (http://www.eason.ie) optical instruments made by the Antiquarian Although you won’t detect much Dublin firm of Grubb. At last the • Bantry Bookstore, Bantry, County trace there, it was at Nenagh, not far building and instruments are in the Cork (http://www.irelandbooks.com). from Birr, that J.D. Bernal (1901- process of being restored. The 1971), “Sage”, was born. An physics department also has a Libraries and archives. extensive account of Bernal’s life and interesting collection of historic • The National Library of Ireland political and philosophical thought scientific instruments, and it is (http://www.heanet.ie/natlib). The has been developed by Helena anticipated that some at least of these national library is the official Sheehan and can be found at will be displayed in the refurbished repository of all Irish publications. http://www.dcu.ie/~comms/hsheehan/ observatory. • The Royal Irish Academy Library has bernal.htm. a large collection of manuscripts and Blarney Castle books on the history and philosophy University College Cork No visitor to Ireland from anywhere of science in Ireland. For (http://www.ucc.ie) should miss the opportunity to visit a information, contact the Librarian, The second city in the Republic of key Irish scientific and philosophical Siobhan O'Rafferty ([email protected]). Ireland is Cork (reckoned as the first site, Blarney Castle, very close to • Marsh’s Library, Dublin city by all Corkonians). It has Cork city. Many carefully controlled (www.kst.dit.ie/marsh/library.html). another of the recognised Colleges of double-blind scientific experiments This is the oldest public library in the National University of Ireland, have established beyond doubt that Ireland (built in 1701). One fifth of kissing the Blarney stone will add its collection dates before 1700, and enormously to the quality and content Stillingfleet’s library has found its of speech of anyone brave enough to way here. do so. You can quite easily prove • The National Archives of Ireland this for yourself. http://www.nationalarchives.ie.

• The UCC Library Further information (http://booleweb.ucc.ie/search/subject This article has focused on only some /archives/boole.htm) has a collection of the best and easily accessible of Boole’s papers. sights and sites. There are many

more possibilities for the dedicated Publishers. searcher: places like Lismore Castle No Irish publishers specialize in in County Waterford, birthplace of history of science or philosophy, but Robert Boyle; the various locations some have relevant items in their used by Marconi (whose mother and George Boole catalogues: first wife were Irish) in his early radio • work; and the Burren in County Clare Four Courts Press (http://www.four- although it chooses to retain its older with its remarkable flora. Here are courts-press.ie). • name—University College Cork. assorted other resources: Publishers Group South West ([email protected]). • One of UCC’s most famous Other academic departments. Cork University Press Professors was George Boole (1815- • Dublin City University (www.dcu.ie). (http://www.ucc.ie/corkunip). • 1864), the first Professor of Research interests include STS and The Royal Irish Academy is the Mathematics at what was then philosophy of science (Helena country’s largest scholarly publisher...... 12 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

For information, contact the [email protected]. The Science and adds to the growing number of Publications Officer, Hugh Shiels Section of the Royal Dublin Society accessible editions of Bruno’s ([email protected]). (Ballsbridge,Dublin 4, [01] 6680866) principal works. This carefully edited is also of note. volume includes De Lucca’s edition Publications and Electronic of Cause, Principle and Unity—the Resources. Journals and other publications. second English translation (the first These volumes describe interesting • Berkeley Newsletter. Editors: David was published by Greenwood Press in sites (and include bibliographies): Berman and Paul O’Grady 1976), and Blackwell’s edition of On • Irish National Inventory of Historic ([email protected]). Philosophy Magic and A General Account of Scientific Instruments, Charles Department, Trinity College, Dublin. Bonding—the first English translation Mollan, Samton Limited, Dublin. • International Journal of Philosophical of these two short works. To some • Royal Irish Academy - a bicentennial Studies degree, these translations and Gatti’s history 1785-1985, Royal Irish (http://www.ucd.ie/~philosop/moran/i book are part of the resurgence of Academy. jps.htm). Editor: Dermont Moran interest in Renaissance Philosophy • Irish Innovators in Science & ([email protected]). Philosophy over the past three decades. In Technology, Charles Mollan, Bill Department, University College particular, many recent works by and Davis and Brendan Finucane (ed.s), Dublin. The Journal is currently about Bruno are oriented towards a Royal Irish Academy, Spring, 2000. planning an issue with papers from rebuttal, or at least a more balanced the 1999 philosophy conference at the assessment, of Frances Yates’ History of Mathematics: Royal Irish Academy, which was landmark work, Giordano Bruno and Mathematicians and Philosophers of devoted to the Vienna Circle. the Hermetic Tradition (1964). It is Mathematics to Yates’ immense credit that she (www.maths.tcd.ie/pub/HistMath/) Dr Charles Mollan brought Bruno and other late This electronic archive—maintained Irish National Committee for the History Medieval and Renaissance by David Wilkins (School of and Philosophy of Science ‘heterodox’ figures to the attention of Mathematics, TCD, Editor of The Irish Scientist Year Book the scholarly community in early [email protected])--contains ! modern philosophy and the history of writings of mathematicians (and ideas. However, Yates insisted on philosophers writing about seeing Bruno (almost) entirely as the mathematics), including Berkeley, Book Reviews last great exponent of the Hermetic or Boole, and Hamilton. Occult tradition of prisca scientia, Giordano Bruno. Cause, and, for the most part, relegated his Societies. Principle and Unity; and natural-scientific, metaphysical and In 1683, William Molyneux (1656- ethical theses to the status of eclectic 1698) founded the Dublin Essays on Magic. rhetorical devices and digressions. Philosophical Society as an affiliate The recent ‘trend’ by Bruno scholars, of the Royal Society. The Dublin Cause, Principle, and Unity. such as Ramon Mendoza, G. affiliate did not last more than a Trans. and Ed. Robert de Lucca. Aquilecchia, and Rita Sturlese generation, but it was emblematic of Essays on Magic. Trans. and Ed. (whose excellent research remains mostly untranslated), has reversed an Irish presence in scientific and Richard J. Blackwell. Intro. this interpretation, stressing the philosophical inquiry of the day. No Alfonso Ingegno. Cambridge: one was more representative of this importance of his forward-looking Cambridge University Press, spirit of inquiry than Molyneux picture of the cosmos and bracketing himself (a web-based biography is at 1998, xxxvi + 186. his magical and occult literary http://es.rice.edu/ES/humsoc/Galileo/ allusions. Catalog/Files/molyneux.html). Hilary Gatti. Giordano Bruno Bruno’s lasting claims to fame are Today, there are numerous Irish and Renaissance Science. well-known and hardly in need of scientific societies but none have further discussion here. He was one interests that map neatly onto those of Ithaca & London: Cornell of the first serious proponents of HOPOS. Related activities are University Press, 1999, x + 257 Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis, pursued by the Royal Irish Academy pp. argued for an infinite universe, and the Belfast branch of the Royal The Bruno works appearing in the unbound by celestial ‘orbs’, Institute of Philosophy (see above). recently-inaugurated Cambridge considered the stars to be other suns To contact the National Committee Texts in the History of Philosophy around which earth-like planets for Philosophy of the RIA, write to: Series extends the reach of that series revolved, and rejected the church as an authority on issues of natural ...... 13 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group reason. His second Italian dialogue, directed towards a higher level or if it measuring, and mapping out anew Cause, Principle and Unity follows is carried out so as to render the agent the shape of the natural world. To immediately after his first, La Cena no longer master but servant of his stress these aspects of his thought de le Ceneri (The Ash Wednesday imagination. Bruno’s concept of could well seem a simple return to Supper), which, with four other bonding refers to a spiritual linkage earlier readings of Bruno, which Italian titles, were first published in which the magus establishes between tended to treat with distaste his London after his visit to England in himself and another soul. Ingegno references to magic, astrology and 1584-85. Bruno’s Copernican remarks that “…the magus is the art of memory....But was it arguments had an unfriendly, even really necessary to denigrate those contemptuous reception at Oxford aspects of Bruno’s thought? I University, and the Supper is to some became convinced that Bruno’s extent an account of that concern with such subjects...could confrontation, filtered through the be seen as surrounding and Nolan’s savage and clever parodies of complementing his concern with English Scholastics and Neo- the new science.” Aristotelians. He continues this line of argument through his spokesman The main task which Gatti sets Filoteo in the five dialogues of Cause, herself in this book is to explain what Principle and Unity, of which the first it means for Hermetic and Magical is an apology and synopsis of the thought to ‘surround’ and Supper. In the brief, highly incisive ‘complement’ his concerns with Introduction, the excellent Italian natural-scientific hypotheses about scholar Alfonso Ingegno comments terrestrial and celestial physics. that Bruno had attempted to reunify terrestrial with celestial physics on Dr. Gatti considers in detail several the basis of a principle of universal Giordano Bruno components of a picture of Bruno as a becoming. From this metaphysical philosopher of science concerned basis, he moves on to derive a new acquainted with the dynamics not with issues of theoretical integrity. concept of the divinity which was to only of magic but also of demonic She offers an overview of recent assume a radically anti-Christian action, and knows how demons can studies on Bruno’s Pythagorean character. This doctrine led in some take possession of us through tendencies, and his well-informed measure to his condemnation and unguarded avenues, and this opens up understanding of Copernicus. Her eventual execution at the hands of the to him a new field of action, careful reading of the Copernican Inquisition in 1600, when he had permitting him to link other men to elements in several Bruno texts— been found to be “an impenitent, himself and, in fact, to establish a especially the Supper and De stubborn and obstinate heretic”. whole series of magical bonds Immenso—show that Bruno was able between himself and others.” This to appreciate some of the grander Blackwell’s translation of On Magic much reaffirms the vision of Bruno as implications of the heliocentric and A General Account of Bonding Hermetic. theory, including most importantly (De Vinculis in Genera) are the insight that the physics of matter especially welcome, since there are A more expansive picture of Bruno most closely associated with pre- no other easily accessible editions. emerges in Hilary Gatti’s Giordano Copernican cosmology would have to They were composed during Bruno’s Bruno and Renaissance Science. In be abandoned. Despite the fact that visit to Prague and Helmstedt in her Preface, she concisely blocks out Bruno himself never made any 1588-90 and copied by an admirer the two principal orientations which astronomical observations, and named Besler; the manuscripts Bruno studies have taken in the past seemed to genuinely disparage remained in the Noroff collection in half-century and carefully situates her experimental observation, he was Moscow until they were printed for own reaction to the Yates-inspired able to make some improvements (as the first time in the third volume of reading of Bruno as an Hermetic and well as some mistakes) in the celestial the Tocco edition of the Latin works Magical thinker. She writes: model. Before discussing Bruno’s in 1891. In these two short works, pivotal doctrine about the infinite the Nolan focuses his attention on the “It appeared to me that [Bruno’s] universe, the author conducts a brief notion of cognitive or spiritual attention was more often directed inquiry into Bruno’s relation with ‘contraction’ through which the elsewhere, to subjects such as the William Gilbert’s magnetic studies. magus can realize certain powers. new cosmology and the revival of (Here is an opportunity for But, he says, this can have an ancient atomism, to number theory Renaissance scholars; an accessible opposite effect if this power is and the possibility of investigating, edition of Gilbert’s posthumous De ...... 14 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group mundo nostro sublunari (1651) is either to the status of an Hermetic wrongheaded alchemy to right- badly needed.) magus who dabbled in the new minded modernity. science, or to the status of a The real strength of Gatti’s book rationalist who merely dressed up his Principe begins the work by appears in five well-argued and natural science in strange occult presenting the historical context persuasive chapters on the doctrine of garments. This work goes a long way (along with a helpful description of an infinite universe, an order of towards achieving the author’s the meaning of alchemical terms), infinite worlds, the concept of a ambition: to show how this great followed by an account of how it minimal unit, an idiosyncratic Renaissance thinker was in a serious happened that Boyle’s alchemical understanding of mathematics, and a debate about the epistemological activities got lost in the shuffle of visual or pictorial logic. The status of modern science, and that the historical interpretations. Next comes proposed convergence of the two 20th century discussion to which his an in-depth analysis of Boyle’s lines of thinking about Bruno, first work is most relevant is the conflict Sceptical Chymist, identifying mentioned in the Preface, receives a over the status of scientific theory. precisely the objects of Boyle’s clear statement in this context: scepticism (rather than alchemists per Paul S. MacDonald se, the work was aimed at textbook “Bruno uses both neo-Platonic and Department of Philosophy writers and technicians). Then comes Hermetic sources and vocabulary University of Durham, UK a discussion of Boyle’s unpublished express his sense of the divinity of ! Dialogue on Transmutation (which his infinite universe [and] questions Principe has painstakingly such as the nature of de problem of The Aspiring Adept: Robert reconstructed insofar as is possible time, and the immortality of the out of the twenty-three extant soul. It is a mistake, however, to Boyle and His Alchemical fragments, some of which are later separate the consideration such Quest. Including Boyle’s revisions of earlier jottings). The aspects of his thought from his final three chapters deal with topics natural philosophy. Precisely “Lost” Dialogue on the such as Boyle’s actual contacts with because Bruno sees the infinite in Transmutation of Metals. adepts (alchemists), his witnessing of substance as rationally ordered by alleged transmutations, the secrecy the divine intelligence, its infinite Lawrence M. Principe. associated with alchemy, the role of extension must necessarily assume alchemy in medicine, and Boyle’s a coherent physical ontology which Princeton: Princeton University views on alchemical processes as he expresses as an infinite number Press, 1998. Pp. xiv + 339. evidence of spiritual activity in the of worlds.” (p. 122) world. These three chapters, We have here a comprehensive (and especially, provide a fascinating My criticisms of Gatti’s book are much-needed) treatment of Robert insight into seventeenth-century rather minor and focus only on some Boyle’s involvement with alchemy— alchemical thought in general and isolated points. It stretches my one that enables us finally to make into Boyle’s specific alchemical credulity to think that some of sense of the many references to concerns in particular. The sections Bruno’s conclusions, despite his alchemical processes and activities in dealing with Boyle’s belief that undoubted genius and eclecticism, his works and papers. Until now, transmutational alchemy might serve could cogently stand comparison with Boyle has been almost universally to link the physical world and Relativity Theory, Quantum portrayed as the one who purged spiritual agencies serve as a reminder Mechanics, negative energy states, chemistry of its mystical and that theology was foremost in Boyle’s elusive quarks (pp. 138, 142). alchemical components, and thus as thought and that it was always Bruno’s exposition of an ordered the one who set chemistry on the path intimately connected with his series of ciphers in several key works along which it ought (and did) explorations of the natural world. does not in any way play upon the develop. Aspiring Adept consigns Principe’s research has been thorough paradoxes of self-reference—and that interpretation to the oblivion it and complete, and his writing is clear there is no need to bring in Douglas deserves: The ‘Father of Modern and easy to read—a major Hofstadter’s preciously clever Chemistry’ was up to his accomplishment given the technical brainteasers (p. 183). On the whole Philosopher’s Stone in nature of some aspects of the work. Gatti’s book is lucidly written and transmutational alchemy throughout There is a bibliography, as well as an carefully presented, with an even- his career as a natural philosopher. index. handed, judicious consultation of As Principe rightly explains, there is primary and secondary sources. It no reason to believe that the path to There are three appendixes: The first dexterously avoids any arbitrary modern chemistry involved some (and longest) is the reconstructed strictures which would confine Bruno clear-cut and linear progression from Dialogue on the Transmutation and ...... 15 Newsletter of The History of Philosophy of Science (HOPOS) Working Group

Melioration of Metals (along with a he had himself become adept at seventeenth-century Latin translation deciphering the allegorical and About HOPOS of some of the original English enigmatic discourse of alchemy. As a fragments). The second consists of a result, he came to the study of Boyle HOPOS, The History of Philosophy of number of interview accounts of as a chemist specially trained in the Science Working Group, is an informal, transmutation, as well as prefaces to history of alchemy, and hence was international society of scholars who share an interest in promoting serious, Boyle’s other chrysopoetic open to whatever he might discover scholarly research on the history of the (transmutation) writings. The third about Boyle. And what he philosophy of science and related topics consists of a Boylean dialogue on discovered ought to serve as a in the history of the natural and social conversing with angels. Principe has warning against interpretations that sciences, logic, philosophy, and done a masterful job of editing these impose twentieth-century values on mathematics. We interpret this texts. He has placed all deletions and historical figures. statement of shared interest broadly, to include all historical periods and In fact, this work teaches us as much diverse methods. We aim to promote about productive ways to pursue the historical work in a variety of ways, history of the philosophy of science including the sponsorship of meetings as it teaches us about Boyle’s and conference sessions, the publication alchemical concerns. In addition to of books and special issues of journals, laying to rest Whiggish the dissemination of information about interpretations of Boyle, Principe also libraries, archives and collections, and deflates recent social constructivist the preparation of bibliographies and interpretations. While recognizing research guides. that older interpretations usually ignored the significance of social The HOPOS electronic mailing list is a networks, Principe warns against genial virtual medium for the exchange losing sight of the fact that historical of news, ideas, and queries regarding figures in natural philosophy often the history of the philosophy of science.

considered themselves to be more For information on HOPOS and the Robert Boyle involved in discerning the truth about HOPOS listserv, go to:

God and nature than in seeing http://scistud.umkc.edu/hopos. interlineations in endnotes, where themselves as part of a complex Archives of the listserv are available at: they may be pursued by readers social network. Certainly where http://listserv.nd.edu/archives/hopos- interested in development of the text, Boyle is concerned this is true, and l.html. without distracting the eye of readers Principe’s work (especially his interested in an uncluttered text. The discussion of active disputes and Submissions to and inquiries about the editorial annotations, retained as vehement disagreements in the Newsletter of HOPOS may be sent to footnotes, are helpful and range from Dialogue on Transmutation) the Editor at: [email protected]. the identification of historical figures emphasizes Boyle’s commitment to to explanations in modern ascertaining the truth. One of All copyright reserved by the HOPOS terminology of chemical processes Principe’s many strengths in Working Group. Reproduction for fair referred to in the text. fashioning a history of seventeenth- use is encouraged. century natural philosophy is his Principe is highly qualified to have reading of characters in their own Steering Committtee of HOPOS written this work, holding a joint terms, and avoiding overly strong Alan Richardson, Univ of BC, Chair appointment in both the Department sociological interpretations. Janet Folina, Macalester College of Chemistry and the Institute for the George Gale, Univ of Missouri, KC History of Science, Medicine, and Jan W. Wojcik Gary Hatfield, Univ of Pennsylvania Technology at The Johns Hopkins Auburn University University. Thus he has a Auburn, Alabama Michael Heidelberger, Humboldt Univ background most helpful for ! Don Howard, Univ of Notre Dame understanding the descriptions of Cassandra Pinnick, Western Kentucky Univ experiments and processes found in Tom Uebel, London School of Economics the works of Boyle and others. Rose-Mary Sargent, Merrimack College Further, by the time his interest in the history of alchemy led him to Boyle

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