Denise PHILLIPS. Acolytes of Nature

In Acolytes of Nature Denise Phillips presents a compelling account of the development of modern scientific culture in late Enlightenment and early nineteenth-century Germany. Two interrelated tales merge into a single narrative. The first is the emergence of the concept of Naturwissenschaft, broadly signifying scientific investigation of nature, and the second is the development of new types of scientific societies. The result is an original and nuanced work combining scientific, intellectual, and social history in impressive fashion. Phillips begins her account with late eighteenth-century Germany, concentrating on the activities of natural history societies rather than on specific figures, although the book is peppered with delightful short accounts of various scientists and other intellectuals most often unknown to all but specialists. The focus, however, is on how the changing praxis of such societies resulted in a new conception of science. In contrast with countries such as Britain or France, German scientific activity in the nineteenth century was more locally than nationally organized. Scientific societies in Germany, more than universities, enabled a fruitful dialectic of professionalization and popularization of scientific activity. The earlier republic of letters was transformed from the end of the eighteenth century into a new community of Naturforscher, researchers of nature, who, notwithstanding various intellectual disputes, fostered a growing sense of partnership in a collective enterprise. Scientific societies were increasingly open not just to academics but also to members of the educated public, which encouraged the development of a vibrant network of intellectual communication. The Enlightenment emphasis on practical science made room for a more unified and general science of nature influenced by romantic philosophy. Scientific activity also played a part in building a sense of German nationality, though according to Phillips less than is often claimed. In the early nineteenth century, scientific publishing became increasingly important. In the politically decentralized German lands scientific journals were often local publications, enabling researchers to validate their accomplishments in an increasingly crowded public-scientific world, though one that was able to afford women at least some participation in scientific activity.

Dialectic · Enlightenment · Epistemology · German · History of science · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Diverse Historical and Scientific Studies · Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis · History · History of Science and Medicine · Philosophy