Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

210130

Boscovich in Britain

J. L. Heilbron

pp. 99-116

Abstract

The famous atomic theory invented by Roger Boscovich, which he described as a mixture of metaphysics and geometry, aimed primarily at a reform in the teaching of natural philosophy in Jesuit colleges. The suppression of the Society soon rendered that use moot. The theory lived on, however, and prospered, primarily in Britain. Among the causes of this unlikely success was the removal from the theory of the metaphysical traits that to Boscovich were its main attraction. What is known as the Boscovichian atom is not Boscovich's atom.

Publication details

Published in:

Arabatzis Theodore, Renn Jürgen, Simões Ana (2015) Relocating the history of science: essays in honor of Kostas Gavroglu. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 99-116

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-14553-2_8

Full citation:

Heilbron J. L. (2015) „Boscovich in Britain“, In: T. Arabatzis, J. Renn & A. Simões (eds.), Relocating the history of science, Dordrecht, Springer, 99–116.