Research Catalog

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

Title
Reading the book of nature in the Dutch golden age, 1575-1715 / by Eric Jorink ; translated by Peter Mason.
Author
Jorink, Eric
Publication
Leiden, The Netherlands ; Boston : Brill, 2010.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Filter by

1 Item

StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextRequest in advance QH21.N4 J6713 2010Off-site

Details

Description
xxi, 472 p. : ill., maps; 25 cm.
Summary
Summary: 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.
Series Statement
Brill's studies in intellectual history ; v. 191
Uniform Title
  • Boeck der Natuere. English
  • Brill's studies in intellectual history ; v. 191.
Alternative Title
Boeck der Natuere.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • History
  • History.
Note
  • "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.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Language (note)
  • Translated from the Dutch.
Processing Action (note)
  • committed to retain
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.
ISBN
  • 9789004186712 (hardback : alk. paper)
  • 9004186719 (hardback : alk. paper)
LCCN
^^2010036890
OCLC
647901937
Owning Institutions
Harvard Library