Natural Philosophy in Early Modernity

doi:10.1017/9781108860666.011

10 - Natural Philosophy in Early Modernity

from Part II - Histories

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 July 2022

Nathan Lyons

Edited by

Alexander J. B. Hampton and

Douglas Hedley

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Alexander J. B. Hampton: Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Douglas Hedley: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

This chapter examines natural philosophy in the early modern period (roughly 1600-1800), focusing on three areas: 1) the so-called mechanisation of nature, which presents a rival understanding of the natural order to that of medieval Aristotelianism; 2), the rise of experiment and laws of nature as tools for the knowledge of nature; 3) the emergence of new theologies of nature and new methods of biblical interpretation, which develop in concert with wider changes in natural philosophy. The chapter demonstrates how early modern thinkers inherit and transform the natural philosophy of the medieval Latin tradition, producing new philosophical and theological accounts of nature that are sufficiently comprehensive to rival the Christian-Aristotelian framework of the Middle Ages.

Keywords

natural philosophy natural theology early modern philosophy biblical hermeneutics mechanical philosophy experiments physico-theology Robert Boyle Francis Bacon Rene Descartes

Type: Chapter
Information: The Cambridge Companion to Christianity and the Environment , pp. 150 - 162

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108860666.011 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2022

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References

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