Reading the book of nature in the Dutch golden age, 1575-1715 / by Eric Jorink ; translated by Peter Mason.

  • Jorink, Eric.
Date:
2010
  • Books

About this work

Also known as

Boeck der Natuere. English

Description

Traditionally, Dutch scientific culture of the Golden Age is regarded as rational, pragmatic, and utilitarian. The role of Christiaan Huygens, Johannes Swammerdam and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in the so called Scientific Revolution was recognised long ago, as was the fact that the revolutionary philosophy of René Descartes made its first impact in the Netherlands. This book challenges the traditional picture. First, it shows how nature was regarded as a second book of God, next to the Bible. For many, contemplating, investigating, representing and collecting natural objects was a religious activity. Secondly, this book demonstrates that the deconstruction of the old picture of nature was partly caused by the pioneering exegetical research conducted in the Dutch Republic, more specifically, the emergence of radical biblical criticism.

Publication/Creation

Leiden : Brill, 2010.

Physical description

xxi, 472 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm.

Contributors

Notes

"This book is a revised and translated version of Het Boeck der Natuere. Nederlandse geleerden en de wonderen van Gods schepping, 1575-1716, Leiden 2006"--T.p. verso.

Bibliographic information

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

The interpretation of the book of nature down to around 1600 -- Comets : the debate on the 'wonders of the heavens' -- Insects : 'the wonders of God in the humblest creatures' -- Collections of curiosities : "a book in which God has gloriously described himself' -- Books of wonders : from rarity to regularity -- The book of nature : from axiom to metaphor.

Language note

Translated from the Dutch.

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatus
    History of Medicine
    AN.381.AA5-7
    Open shelves

Permanent link

Identifiers

ISBN

  • 9789004186712
  • 9004186719