Newtonian Audiences
[Multimedia Resources] [Texts]
Multimedia Resources
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- Alexi Baker, 1. London is their North Star In her first vodcast, Alexi Baker of Oxford University discusses the place of London in the trade and manufacture of scientific instruments.[
640x360 m4v (46.8 Mb)] - Alexi Baker, 2. Making Scientific Instruments in 18th century London In her second vodcast, Alexi Baker of Oxford University discusses the different types of scientific instruments being manufactured and the people to whom they are sold.[ 640x360 m4v (35.4 Mb)]
- Alexi Baker, 3. The Intellectual and Entrepreneurial Collide In her third vodcast, Alexi Baker of Oxford University discusses the instrument makers themselves and the various ways in which they supplemented their incomes.[ 640x360 m4v (28 Mb)]
- Alexi Baker, 4. Polite Society and the Public Theatre In her fourth vodcast, Alexi Baker of Oxford University discusses the gentile audiences for experimental, philosophical demonstrations, their fashionable status, and the effect these trends had on Newton's reputation.[ 640x360 m4v (35.4 Mb)]
- John Theophilus Desaguliers, Desaguliers: The Dedicatory Letter In this letter, Desaguliers dedicates the book to Frederick, Prince of Wales — son of George II — a dedication which acknowledges the Princes's support and patronage as much as it serves to lend his work authority and gravitas.[ 680x360 mp4 (9.8 Mb)] [ 1280x720 mp4 (25.2 Mb)]
- John Theophilus Desaguliers, Desaguliers: Preface I In the first part of his preface, Desaguliers outlines his philosophy of science, the importance of mathematics and geometry to understanding the natural world, and explains how Newton's thinking has overthrown much of the existing conjectural philosopy, not least that of Descartes.[ 680x360 mp4 (12.7 Mb)] [ 1280x720 mp4 (32.9 Mb)]
- John Theophilus Desaguliers, Desaguliers: Preface II In the second part of his preface, Desaguliers points out how the need to learn mathematics often frightens people from Newtonian philosophy. He explains the superiority of the explanation of causes over the formation of hypotheses, and notes the success of Dr. Keill's experimental lecture courses in teaching Newtonian principles without mathematics.[ 680x360 mp4 (17.4 Mb)] [ 1280x720 mp4 (44.7 Mb)]
- John Theophilus Desaguliers, Desaguliers: Preface III In the third part of his preface, Desaguliers considers his own audience, explaining how his lectures use mechanical demonstrations to make their point, while reminding the reader of the importance of attending the entire course of lectures.[ 680x360 mp4 (9.8 Mb)] [ 1280x720 mp4 (26.4 Mb)]
- Peter Langman, The Experimental Lecturers Eighteenth century lecturers developed lectures meant to simplify Newton's scientific ideas and made them understandable to the people. [ 640x360 m4v (22.8 Mb)]
- Peter Langman, Women and Children Next: Newtonian Popularisations Pete Langman discusses Franceso Algarotti's Newton for the Ladies and Tom Telescope's Philosophy of Tops and Balls, two different approaches to popularising Newton's scientific ideas 'without maths'.[ 640x360 m4v (24.9 Mb)]
- Jane Wess, King George III's Scientific Instruments Jane Wess, Senior Curator of Science at London's Science Museum, takes us on a guided tour of the King George III collection of scientific instruments. Instruments include the oil of oranges, the Archimedean Screw, the incline plane, the philosophical table, and an air pump. [ 1280x720 mp4 (60.2 Mb)]
- Jane Wess, Scientific Instruments of Stephen Demainbray In this, the second of two talks from Jane Wess, Senior Curator of Science at London's Science Museum, Jane shows us the scientific instruments of Stephen Demainbray. Stephen Demainbray travelled the country performing experimental lectures for public consumption, and his instruments were somewhat less grand than those of George Adams. Some of the instruments shown include a compound lever, a pendulum, a whirling table, and a cometarium, the camera obscura and Demainbray's telescope.[ 640x360 m4v (62.9 Mb)]
Texts
- Francesco Algarotti, Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy Explain'd For the Use of the Ladies. Vol. 1 (London: 1739)
- Francesco Algarotti, Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophy Explain'd For the Use of the Ladies. Vol. 2 (London: 1739)
- John Harris, Astronomical Dialogues between a Gentleman and a Lady: Wherein the Doctrine of the Sphere, Uses of the Globes, and the Elements of Astronomy and Geography are Explain'd (London: 1719)
- Benjamin Martin, A Course of Lectures in Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Geography and Astronomy (Reading: 1743)
- Tom Telescope, The Newtonian System of Philosophy Adapted to the Capacities of young Gentlemen and Ladies, and familiarized and made entertaining by Objects with which they are intimately acquainted. (London: 1761)
