Science and spectacle in the European Enlightenment.

9780754663706

Science and spectacle in the European Enlightenment.

Ed. by Bernadette Bensaude-Vincent and Christine Blondel.

Ashgate Publishing Co.

2008

164 pages

$99.95

Hardcover

Science, technology and culture, 1700-1945

Q175

The eighteenth century in Europe was a time of scientific experimentation and discovery. Electricity, chemical interactions and the properties of contained hot air were some of the subjects that lent themselves to public display. In this study, which grew from a 2003 conference held in Paris, Bensaude-Vincent (history and philosophy of science, Universite de Paris X, Nanterre) and Blondel (history of science, CNRS) present essays that describe the kaleidoscope of popular demonstrations of the new sciences. From serious experimentalists to carnival hucksters, natural philosophers entertained the masses with sparks and arcs, puffs of smoke and hot- air balloons. In some cases it was no more than a magic show, but in many others, the show was accompanied by a serious lecture on the science behind the bling. The essays describe the phenomenon from many angles, including the financial, since many speakers also sold equipment and their own books along with the lecture. As a whole the work gives a glimpse into a time when science had not yet been made the sole preserve of universities and governments and the possibility of participating in the new discoveries was open to all. (Note: there are a number of mistakes in the text due to an over reliance on spell-check: "but" for "not," "fractions" for "factions" etc.)

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