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The Natural Philosophy of William Gilbert and His Predecessors

By W. James King
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History - Medieval/Middle AgesHistory - Modern (1750+)Science - Physics

About This Book

The essay reassesses the significance of an early treatise on magnetism by showing that the author introduced a reorganization of existing observations and theories rather than a wholly new experimental or quantitative science. It compares his explanations of lodestone and magnetic phenomena with ancient and medieval accounts — animistic, mechanical, and scholastic — and notes that much empirical material derived from earlier writers and practical navigational reports. The central contribution is presented as a coherent natural philosophy that systematized previous knowledge, rejected occult and fantastical explanations, and modified inherited concepts more than overthrowing them.

About the Author

King, W. James portrait

W. James King

W. James King is an author known for his scholarly work in the field of natural philosophy, particularly through his book "The Natural Philosophy of William Gilbert and His Predecessors." In this work, King explores the contributions of William Gilbert, a pivotal figure in the history of science, and examines the intellectual context surrounding Gilbert's ideas. King's writing reflects a deep engagement with the historical development of scientific thought, making his contributions valuable for those interested in the evolution of natural philosophy.

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