Michael Faraday : Sandemanian and scientist : a study of science and religion in the nineteenth century

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Bibliographic Information

Michael Faraday : Sandemanian and scientist : a study of science and religion in the nineteenth century

Geoffrey Cantor

Macmillan, 1991

  • : hbk
  • : pbk

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 305-347) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: hbk ISBN 9780333550779

Description

Faraday has become renowned as the discoverer of such phenomena as electromagnetic rotation, electromagnetic induction and the laws of electrochemistry. Moreover, his theoretical insights provided the basis for field theory. This book locates Faraday and his science in the context of the Sandemanians, an obscure Christian fundamentalist sect to which he belonged. After outlining the history of the sect, Faraday's social and political views, including his attitude to the scientific community, are shown to derive from the Sandemanian social philosophy. Likewise, his profoundly religious understanding of nature is seen as permeating many aspects of his science.

Table of Contents

  • Part 1 Anglicans, dissenters and Sandemanians: the reforms of the 1830s. Part 2 The London Sandemanian Fellowship: the London meeting house
  • blood relations
  • analysis of membership. Part 3 Faraday among the Sandemanians: Faraday's activities in the church
  • Faraday's influence - Sandemanians at the Royal Institution
  • the final parting. Part 4 Faraday in society: religious institutions
  • on patronage and rewards
  • laving up fortunes - Faraday on wealth
  • in comtemporary society. Part 5 Scientific institutions: the republic of science
  • scientific societies
  • in the scientific community
  • publicist for science
  • civil scientist. Part 6 A theology of nature: scriptural physics
  • the economy of nature
  • the universe of power
  • criticisms of energy physics. Part 7 Faraday on scientific method: reading the book of nature - Faraday's empiricism
  • natural law and moral law
  • science and speculation
  • the language of science
  • Faraday on nature. Part 8 Scientific investigations: electromagnetic induction
  • the problem of gravitation. Part 9 Faraday's personality revisited: family relations
  • fears and crisis. Appendices: Faraday/Barnard family tree
  • male members of the London Sandemanian meeting house, 1821-67
  • Sandemanian scientists.
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780333588024

Description

'Deserves to be as popular with non-specialists as with those who have a science background...I can think of sixth-formers I would offer it to, and I know of an eighty-year-old (non-specialist) who would not let me finish my copy in peace' - Elspeth Crawford, Physics Education 'Cantor...achieves a level of insight into Farday's life which far surpasses all other biographies. It will form the basis on which future studies of all aspects of Faraday's life and work will have to be built' - Frank A.J.James, British Journal for the History of Science 'A sympathetic and accessible treatment of Faraday's life and work' - David Gooding, Physics World 'For those who want to know more about one of the UK's greatest figures, it is essential reading' - A.R.Butler, Chemistry in Britain 'Excellent Biography' - John Kerr, Scientific and Medical Network Newsletter This book locates Faraday and his science in the context of the Sandemanians. We gain both a new interpretation of one of the most important scientists of the nineteenth century and a fascinating insight into the relation between science and religion.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations - Preface - Acknowledgements - Introduction - Anglicans, Dissenters and Sandemanians - The London Sandemanian Fellowship - Faraday among the Sandemanians - Faraday in Society - Scientific Institutions - A Theology of Nature - Faraday on Scientific Method - Scientific Investigations - Faraday's Personality Revisited - Epilogue: Science and Religion - Appendix A: Faraday/Barnard family tree - Appendix B: Male members of the London Sandemanian meeting house, 1821-67 - Appendix C: Sandemanian scientists - Bibliographical Essay - Notes - Index

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