Solomon's Child: Method in the Early Royal Society of London

This book challenges the accepted view of the early Royal Society of London that holds that its fellows did not seriously attempt to implement Francis Bacons program for the methodological reform of the sciences. Instead, the book shows that Bacons program shaped the Societys earliest work in important, if often contradictory, ways as fellows wedded Bacons ideas to their various interests and problem areas. Developing Bacons program in different directions resulted in a richer understanding of his method than the undirected empiricism often associated with his name.

The author demonstrates that Bacons call for a focus on “things themselves” was built upon three distinct images of objects of knowledge, in opposition to recent accounts that focus on the collective witnessing of matters of fact. He identifies at the core of Bacons method a threefold metaphorical ontology of objects of knowledge and corresponding objectivities.

The book reveals a picture of the Royal Society as more sophisticated and unified than previously depicted, while simultaneously demonstrating how the fellows development of Bacons legacy ultimately pulled in different directions. Specular objects of knowledge privileged passive observation and justified an empiricist objectivity. Manipulated objects of art or manual objects emphasized an engaged, constructivist objectivity in which knowing is doing. And, a vision of underlying forms as generative objects of knowledge, which could be combined like letters of the alphabet to produce phenomena at will, defined a theoretical concept of objectivity.

These components of Bacons method inform in varying ways the early publications of the Royal Society by John Evelyn, Robert Hooke, John Wilkins, Thomas Sprat, and John Graunt, which are examined in detail to demonstrate the collective negotiation of an ambitious inductive program employing hypotheses, active powers, and the disciplined use of analogy. Examining the Royal Societys activity in the areas of horticulture, experimentation, language reform, cultural criticism, and political arithmetic, the author synthesizes philosophical and sociological approaches to science in developing a new understanding of the Royal Society and its legacy for science, culture, and politics.

"Recommended . . . for its examination of source materials. Faculty and researchers."—Choice

"Makes a worthwhile contribution to our understanding of the ideological basis of the early Royal society."—Technology and Culture

Challenges the accepted view of the early Royal Society of London that holds that its fellows did not seriously attempt to implement Francis Bacon's program for the methodological reform of the sciences. Instead, the book shows that Bacon's program shaped the Society's earliest work in important, if often contradictory, ways. Various components of Bacon's method inform in varying ways the early publications of the Society, which are examined in detail to demonstrate the collective negotiation of an ambitious inductive program employing hypotheses, active powers, and the disciplined use of analogy.

“Recommended . . . for its examination of source materials. Faculty and researchers.”—Choice

“Makes a worthwhile contribution to our understanding of the ideological basis of the early Royal society.”—Technology and Culture

Challenges the accepted view of the Royal Society, reinstating Francis Bacon's importance.

This book challenges the accepted view of the early Royal Society of London that holds that its Fellows did not seriously attempt to implement Francis Bacon's program for the methodological reform of the sciences. The book reveals a picture of the Royal Society as more sophisticated and unified than previously depicted, while simultaneously demonstrating how the Fellows' development of Bacon's legacy ultimately pulled in different directions. Certain components of Bacon's method inform in varying ways the early publications of the Royal Society by John Evelyn, Robert Hooke, John Wilkins, Thomas Sprat, and John Graunt, which are examined in detail to demonstrate the collective negotiation of an ambitious inductive program employing hypotheses, active powers, and the disciplined use of analogy. Examining the Royal Society's activity in a variety of areas, the author synthesizes philosophical and sociological approaches to science in developing a new understanding of the Royal Society and its legacy.

This book challenges the accepted view of the early Royal Society of London that holds that its fellows did not seriously attempt to implement Francis Bacon's program for the methodological reform of the sciences. Instead, the book shows that Bacon's program shaped the society's earliest work in important, if often contradictory, ways.

William T. Lynch is an Assistant Professor in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program of Wayne State University

1. Varieties of things: objects of knowledge and Baconian method in the early Royal Society of London; 2. Text, skill, and experience in John Evelyn's Sylva; 3. Similitudes and congruities: the mechanical philosophy, practical mechanics, and Baconian analogy in Hooke's Micrographia; 4. A language of things: John Wilkin's philosophical language and operative forms; 5. Disarming words for a land of experimental knowledge: Sprat's History of the Royal Society; 6. Preserving the subject in peace and plenty: John Graunt's Natural and Political Observations upon the Bills of Mortality; Conclusion; bibliography; Index.