The Royal Society

							The Royal Society


  Tara Morrison, M.D.
      Dec. 1, 1999
       Path 214
       Historical background
 Science dictated by church
 Unorthodox ideas frowned upon
 Natural and supernatural mixed together –
  astrology/astronomy, chemistry/alchemy
 No questioning of Divine Order permitted
 Scientists increasingly frustrated, wanting to
  measure, weigh, control conditions under which
  they lived
 Desired scientific explanations based on
  evidence, removing fear of the unknown and
  supernatural.
    Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
 Cambridge educated
 Favorite of Elizabeth I
 Did not perform
   experiments himself
   Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
 Proposed using advances in knowledge to
  better condition of man
 “The Great Instauration”
  – 6 books: 1. Advancement of Learning
             2. Novum Organum
             3. Sylva Sylvarum
             4. Scala Intellectus
            Books 5 and 6 never completed
  Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
 New Atlantis
  – Idealized description of organization for
    advancement of science
  – Consist of a number of Fellows
    12 to travel and collect books and plans
    3 to extract ideas and experiments from books
    3 to collect info on mechanical crafts and
    experimental science
    3 to deduce new generalizations from analysis
    of results
    3 to analyze how this knowledge can benefit
    man
               Antecedents
 Naples, 1560
   Accademia Secretorum Naturae
   Influenced by astrology, alchemy and occult
 Italy, 1603
    Accademia dei Lincei
    Galileo a member
 Italy, 1657-67
    Accademia del Cimiento
              Antecedents
 France, 1635
  – Academie Francaise formed as idea of
    Cardinal Richelieu
 France, 1640’s
  – Montmor Academy result of weekly informal
    gatherings of men of letters
  – Many later became members of Royal Society
  – Formalized 1666 by Colbert under Louis XIV
              Antecedents
 Groups of men gathered everywhere to
  discuss topics and share ideas, books,
  information
 Extensive correspondance across Europe
 Gresham College, 1645
  – Men met in taverns, lodgings, meeting rooms
    for lectures and experiments
         Politics in England
 Strong role in scientific thought
 Time of Civil War (1642-49), and
  overthrow of monarchy by Cromwell
 Heads of universities summarily replaced
  if dogma not approved of by Cromwell
 Monarchy restored 1660, repurging of
  positions of power in academe
Politics in England
         Invisible College
 Aka Philosopher’s Society
 Met to “discourse and consider of
  Philosophical Enquiries and such as related
  thereunto; as Physick, Anatomy,
  Geometry, Astronomy, Navigation,
  Staticks, Magnetics, Chymicks,
  Mechanicks, and Natural Experiments”
          Invisible College
 Included: Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle,
  Robert Hooke
 Topics as varied as the circulation of blood
  (William Harvey), Nature of Comets,
  Descent of Heavy Objects
 1648-1659 at Oxford under John Wilkins