Article ID: CBB001211309

“Könnte nicht also auch die Erdkugel ein großer Turmalin sein?”: Ein Kristall, Lichtenberg und die Polaritätsdiskussion vor 1800 (2012)

unapi

This paper focuses on the debate on one particular phenomenon of the research into electrical charge distribution prior to 1800: the description and interpretation of polarities observed on the tourmaline. We show that in the second half of the eighteenth century this crystal became a model to distinguish and categorize different qualities of charges (electric and magnetic fluids). It will become clear that the polarity detected on the tourmaline became a key concept for eighteenth century natural philosophy, which relied on analogizing operations. We illustrate this concentrating on Lichtenbergs first lecture at the Göttingen academy of science in 1778. Thus the concept of polarity is already a central ordering category before the beginnings of the speculative enterprise of idealistic Naturphilosophy. Consequently, the physicist Johann Wilhelm Ritter, who can be positioned in that context, consciously adheres to the experimental research tradition of polarities portrayed in this paper.

...More
Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001211309/

Similar Citations

Article Antje Pfannkuchen; (2016)
A Matter of Visibility—G. Chr. Lichtenberg's Art and Science of Observation (/isis/citation/CBB217772192/)

Article Finger, Stanley; Piccolino, Marco; Stahnisch, Frank W.; (2013)
Alexander von Humboldt: Galvanism, Animal Electricity, and Self-Experimentation Part 1: Formative Years, Naturphilosophie, and Galvanism (/isis/citation/CBB001320365/)

Article Baxfield, C. R. C.; (2013)
“To Mend the Scheme of Providence”: Benjamin Franklin's Electrical Heterodoxy (/isis/citation/CBB001252898/)

Article Silvio Menchetti; (2021)
How do Crystals Grow? Steno’s Approach (/isis/citation/CBB671869116/)

Thesis Mark H. Summers; (2021)
Reframing Relics: Visible and Material Sanctity in Monstrance Reliquaries (/isis/citation/CBB728845713/)

Article Desmond E. Moser; (2021)
Crystalline stenonian time features from earth and beyond (/isis/citation/CBB106520535/)

Article Winthrop-Young, Geoffrey; (1997)
Terminology and terror: Lichtenberg, Lavoisier and the revolution of signs in France and in chemistry (/isis/citation/CBB000076547/)

Article Leventhal, Robert S; (1986)
The emergence of philological discourse in the German states, 1770-1810 (/isis/citation/CBB000033491/)

Article Goldmann, Stefan; (1995)
Die Meteorologie der Seele: Zu einer Denkfigur Georg Christoph Lichtenbergs (/isis/citation/CBB000072064/)

Article Eulner, Hans-Heinz; (1982)
Zur Geschichte der Meeresheilkunde: Georg Christoph Lichtenberg und das Seebad Cuxhaven (/isis/citation/CBB000025183/)

Chapter Craig, Charlotte M.; (1995)
A rigid issue: Lichtenberg versus Lavater (/isis/citation/CBB000065348/)

Article Esselborn, Hans; (1988)
Jean Paul als Leser Lichtenbergs: Zum Verhältnis von Naturwissenschaft und Dichtung (/isis/citation/CBB000060278/)

Book Haru Hamanaka; (2015)
Erkenntnis und Bild. Wissenschaftsgeschichte der Lichtenbergischen Figuren um 1800 (/isis/citation/CBB112435881/)

Book Gumbert, Hans Ludwig; (1982)
Bibliotheca Lichtenbergiana: Katalog der Bibliothek Georg Christoph Lichtenbergs (/isis/citation/CBB000021936/)

Authors & Contributors
Esselborn, Hans
Craig, Charlotte M.
Summers, Mark H.
Dale, Thomas E. A.
Haru Hamanaka
Moser, Desmond E.
Concepts
Natural philosophy
Electricity; magnetism
Crystals
Science
Personality; character
Physics
Time Periods
18th century
19th century
17th century
Medieval
Places
Germany
North America
Italy
France
Europe
Great Britain
Institutions
Göttingen. Universität
Comments

Be the first to comment!

{{ comment.created_by.username }} on {{ comment.created_on | date:'medium' }}

Log in or register to comment