precise calculations of all the astronomical appearances in the far future.
Pierre-Simon markiz d’Laplace (1749–1827) has been obsessed by the discussion
about the idea about the perfect cosmos-machine. In scientific history, this concept
is well known under the name Laplace’s demon: if you sre siting on a distant planet,
and if you know all the starting conditions of the position and movement, all the
future development is precisely determined! Such a way, Determinism became the
basic scientific concept.
The possibility of quantitative representation of the world imagined as a machine
requires that the reason, ratio, must be in the focus of scientific and philosophical
activity. The worship of the reason as a new divinity has stimulated the appearance
of new scientific paradigm, and the scientific revolution. New world-views were
already on the horizon.
Together with various historical and social aspects, which will not be discussed
because they go beyond this book and its author, it could be argued that the
scientific revolution of 17th and 18th century has been consequence of interweaving of three important factors: mechanical philosophy, democratization of
education within the frame of rationalism, and objectification of science.
Undoubtedly, mechanical philosophy is rooted from physical investigations,
because the mechanisms are in principle the space-time systems that are measurable
and calculable. In 18th century, such mechanicistic studies have grasped also some
“softer” disciplines such as medicine. The concept of human body–machine
appeared mostly in the systematic medicinal studies of Dutch scientist Hermann
Boerhaave (1668–1738). It is interesting to mention that Boerhave, together with
many of medics in that time, gave an important contribution to chemistry. Boerhaave, although he belonged to the iatrochemical concept of the Parecelsian circle,
has reaching to new quantitative approach of mechanical philosophy. His sharp turn
to quantitativity in chemistry is evident in his accurate measuring of masses and
temperature. Some authors consider Boerhave as a predecessor of physical chemistry. However, as a chemist, Boerhave was suspended between mechanicalphilosophical viewpoints and the occult and Aristotelian chemistry.
Eclecticism, the conjunction of incompatible, the occult with rational, was
especially noticeable in the work of the establisher of classical mechanics, and one
of the authors of new scientific paradigm Isaac Newton (1642–1717). In the scientific history, Newton has been systematized between physicists, but his
alchemical activity was almost forgotten [1]. Mechanical movements of celestial
bodies that follow the exact mathematically described laws have probably stimulated Newton to try to explain the movements in microcosmos on the similar way.
Conscious, like Paracelsus, that the visible reality of substance is a consequence of
an invisible micro organization, Newton has attended himself to alchemical experiments. Numerous laboratory books with precisely described alchemical
experiments has remained after Newton who intended to understand the possible
5 Occult Enlightenment
49
Pierre-Simon markiz d’Laplace (1749–1827) has been obsessed by the discussion
about the idea about the perfect cosmos-machine. In scientific history, this concept
is well known under the name Laplace’s demon: if you sre siting on a distant planet,
and if you know all the starting conditions of the position and movement, all the
future development is precisely determined! Such a way, Determinism became the
basic scientific concept.
The possibility of quantitative representation of the world imagined as a machine
requires that the reason, ratio, must be in the focus of scientific and philosophical
activity. The worship of the reason as a new divinity has stimulated the appearance
of new scientific paradigm, and the scientific revolution. New world-views were
already on the horizon.
Together with various historical and social aspects, which will not be discussed
because they go beyond this book and its author, it could be argued that the
scientific revolution of 17th and 18th century has been consequence of interweaving of three important factors: mechanical philosophy, democratization of
education within the frame of rationalism, and objectification of science.
Undoubtedly, mechanical philosophy is rooted from physical investigations,
because the mechanisms are in principle the space-time systems that are measurable
and calculable. In 18th century, such mechanicistic studies have grasped also some
“softer” disciplines such as medicine. The concept of human body–machine
appeared mostly in the systematic medicinal studies of Dutch scientist Hermann
Boerhaave (1668–1738). It is interesting to mention that Boerhave, together with
many of medics in that time, gave an important contribution to chemistry. Boerhaave, although he belonged to the iatrochemical concept of the Parecelsian circle,
has reaching to new quantitative approach of mechanical philosophy. His sharp turn
to quantitativity in chemistry is evident in his accurate measuring of masses and
temperature. Some authors consider Boerhave as a predecessor of physical chemistry. However, as a chemist, Boerhave was suspended between mechanicalphilosophical viewpoints and the occult and Aristotelian chemistry.
Eclecticism, the conjunction of incompatible, the occult with rational, was
especially noticeable in the work of the establisher of classical mechanics, and one
of the authors of new scientific paradigm Isaac Newton (1642–1717). In the scientific history, Newton has been systematized between physicists, but his
alchemical activity was almost forgotten [1]. Mechanical movements of celestial
bodies that follow the exact mathematically described laws have probably stimulated Newton to try to explain the movements in microcosmos on the similar way.
Conscious, like Paracelsus, that the visible reality of substance is a consequence of
an invisible micro organization, Newton has attended himself to alchemical experiments. Numerous laboratory books with precisely described alchemical
experiments has remained after Newton who intended to understand the possible
5 Occult Enlightenment
49