Communicating “Natural knowledge” for the “common benefit” of England: Science, Trade and Colonial Expansion in Philosophical Transactions 1665-1700

Manuela D'Amore (Università di Catania)

Abstract

Questo saggio si incentra sulla Royal Society e sulla sua capacità di promuovere la conoscenza della Natura nei primi anni dalla fondazione. Centrale l’apporto della prestigiosa rivista Philosophical Transactions, fondata da Henry Oldenburg nel 1665. Ricca di descrizioni di paesaggi unici, in particolare di studi innovativi in materia di geologia, botanica e agricoltura, questa ha contribuito non solo al progresso tecnico-scientifico, ma anche all’apertura dell’Inghilterra verso l’Europa e le più lontane terre d’oltremare. Ancora oggi trascurati dalla critica, e idealmente divisi in due macro aree tematiche, gli articoli apparsi nel periodo 1665-1700 rappresentano insieme la base testuale e strutturale di questo saggio: l’intento è quello di dimostrare come, partendo proprio dallo studio di quei campi del sapere, i Fellows siano riusciti a modificare l’idea stessa di viaggio, rafforzando soprattutto il rapporto tra scienza, mercantilismo e imperialismo.

DOI: 10.17456/SIMPLE-70

Bibliografia

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