The Natural Philosophy of William Gilbert and His Predecessors

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

King, W. James (William James), 1915-

Series:

Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, Paper 8

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"The Natural Philosophy of William Gilbert and His Predecessors" by W. James King is a scientific publication written in the mid-20th century. The book explores the contributions of William Gilbert, a key figure in the transition from medieval to modern natural philosophy, especially focusing on his work related to magnetism and electricity. It analyzes how Gilbert's theories were influenced by earlier scholarship and how he, in turn, laid foundational concepts for later scientific developments. The book delves into Gilbert's groundbreaking work, particularly his seminal text "De magnete," which provided extensive insights into the nature of magnetism. King traces the historical context of Gilbert's work, comparing his views with those of his predecessors, including Aristotle, St. Thomas Aquinas, and other influential thinkers. The author argues that while Gilbert is often celebrated as a pioneer of modern physics, his ideas were deeply rooted in the scholastic traditions of his time. King's examination reveals the complex interplay between innovation and tradition in Gilbert's approach, illustrating how his interpretations of magnetic attraction and other phenomena represented a critical, yet transitional, point in the evolution of scientific thought. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 64.1 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2010-04-15