Religion and the «Scientific Revolution»

English

«Whig History» Concept in the New Historiography of the Scientific Revolution

Laughing at Credulity and Superstition in the Long Eighteenth Century

Hermetic Tradition and the Scientific Revolution: Towards a New Interpretation of Yates Thesis

The article covers the so called Thesis of Frances Yates, concerning the «hermetical key» to understanding of the Scientific Revolution. The author shows historians’ attitude to Yates’s Thesis and assumes, that in general it depends on what exactly these historians study — the history of science or the history of culture. Also the article shows the role of metahistorical orientation of historians in their attitude to Yates’ Thesis.

The Absorption of Occult Traditions into Early Modern Natural Philosophy: A New Account of the Decline of Magic

Religion and the Changing Historiography of the Scientific Revolution

The article covers «traditional» historiography of the Scientific Revolution, from Auguste Comte to Richard Westfall, and sheds light on the positivist sources that inspired its key ideas and practices. The author believes that positivist views neglected the role of religion in the Scientific Revolution. The situation radically changed in the 1960-1970s, when historians started to pay attention to a wide variety of cultural factors that took part both in the process of birth of the modern science and in shaping modernity as a whole.

The Legacy of Robert Boyle — Then and Now

The article shows how Robert Boyle’s natural theology matched with his strong Christian theism. The author demonstrates how one of the founders of experimental science gave a theological interpretation to his research set, trying to banish suspicion against science from the side of religion and at the same time to provide a religious answer to atheism using natural theology.

No. 1 (31) 2013