Voltaire and Algarotti: diffusers of Newton's optics in Europe in the eighteen century

Authors

  • Breno Arsioli Moura Universidade Federal do ABC; Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas
  • Cibelle Celestino Silva Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Física de São Carlos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-31662015000200007

Abstract

AbstractIn the beginning of 18th century, Newton published his main work about light and colors, the Opticks. Impregnated by an inductive perspective, the book became the major reference for the studies about light and colors, being widely popularized by Newton's followers. In this article, we analyze how two important works contributed to this process of popularization and also what image of science they intended to propagate: Voltaire's Elements of Newton's philosophie and Algarotti's Sir Isaac Newton's philosophy explain'd for the use of the ladies. We will be notice that both authors distorted the content of the Opticks, in order to propagate an idealized image of Newtonian ideas and natural philosophy itself.

Published

2015-06-01

Issue

Section

Artigos

How to Cite

Voltaire and Algarotti: diffusers of Newton’s optics in Europe in the eighteen century. (2015). Scientiae Studia, 13(2), 397-423. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-31662015000200007