Hi, nice to meet you! :) I've learned so many things about Frederick et al these last few weeks and it's been quite a ride so far.
Did they have the same division of physics that we have now? I had the vague impression they kind of shoved everything science-related under "natural philosophy" and called it a day.
Yeah, as far as I know, they didn't have the clear science divisions yet, neither between natural sciences and philosophy as an umbrella term nor between the different natural sciences as we understand them today, that's why I added the hindsight comment. Although I think the 18th century was when that very slowly started to change - they do use the term physics and are employing scientific methods instead of placing the weight on the philosophy part of natural philosophy, even though it's still kind of seen as part of it (and taught that way at universities). Probably one reason why Voltaire's dabbling in it, too. Biology as a term doesn't exist yet, but chemistry as derived from alchemy is kind of around. (Although as Fredersdorf clearly shows, alchemy itself is still a thing as well.)
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Re: Early Fritz letter to Voltaire / Random Thoughts
Date: 2020-10-10 04:18 pm (UTC)Did they have the same division of physics that we have now? I had the vague impression they kind of shoved everything science-related under "natural philosophy" and called it a day.
Yeah, as far as I know, they didn't have the clear science divisions yet, neither between natural sciences and philosophy as an umbrella term nor between the different natural sciences as we understand them today, that's why I added the hindsight comment. Although I think the 18th century was when that very slowly started to change - they do use the term physics and are employing scientific methods instead of placing the weight on the philosophy part of natural philosophy, even though it's still kind of seen as part of it (and taught that way at universities). Probably one reason why Voltaire's dabbling in it, too. Biology as a term doesn't exist yet, but chemistry as derived from alchemy is kind of around. (Although as Fredersdorf clearly shows, alchemy itself is still a thing as well.)