The Bloomsbury Companion to Robert Boyle

Product Description

Robert Boyle, well known in scientific circles, has still not received the credit he deserves in philosophy. A leader in experimental philosophy, his interests range from morality and philosophy of religion to epistemology and the philosophy of science. The Bloomsbury Companion to Robert Boyle brings together the latest work on the lesser known aspects of Boyle's philosophy, alongside some of his best known views, and surveys the full range of his philosophy for the first time.

Situating Boyle within the philosophical and scientific traditions and introducing his zeal for experiment and commitment to the improvement of humanity, chapters reveal how crucial chemistry and alchemy are to his philosophy of science. They take up the metaphysical and ontological consequences of his philosophy and discuss his influence in the 17th and 18th centuries. Highlighting the importance of his moral theory and theological commitments for his philosophy of science, metaphysics and epistemology, chapters show how they motivate Boyle's philosophical positions and practices.

For students or researchers looking to better understand Boyle's contribution to philosophy The Bloomsbury Companion to Robert Boyle is a comprehensive and invaluable guide. By taking into account the last thirty years of scholarship and pointing towards the next thirty years it presents the best of the current research on Boyle's philosophy and significance today.

Review

“The scholarship of the last few decades … has illuminated the wider range of both his writings and his influence, a development in which the contributors to the current volume played no small part … A valuable contribution to 17th-century studies. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.” -CHOICE

“This is the first collection to provide comprehensive treatment of Boyle's highly influential writings. Scholars in various disciplines will find it informative and useful. Highly recommended.” ―Alan Nelson, Professor of Philosophy, University of North Carolina, U.S.A.

“This welcome volume expertly discusses the many facets of Boyle's work as a natural philosopher and as a systematic philosopher. Both topics and contributors are judiciously chosen. The result is a much-needed contribution to the Boyle literature, which will be helpful to any serious student or scholar of the early modern period.” ―Lisa Downing, Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Ohio State University, USA

About the Author

Jan-Erik Jones is Professor of Philosophy at Southern Virginia University, USA.