Promotional Information

The judicious piecing together of the fragmentary biographical material with the content of Beeckman's scientific diary not only brings back to life an extraordinary scientific practitioner but helps shed new light on the nature of European science on the eve of the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. -- Mordechai Feingold, California Institute of Technology

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
1. The Making of a Natural Philosopher, 1588–1619
2. Schoolteacher and Craftsman, 1619–1627
3. Among Patricians and Philosophers, 1627–1637
4. Principles of Mechanical Philosophy I: Matter
5. Principles of Mechanical Philosophy II: Motion
6. Sources for a Mechanical Philosophy
7. Beeckman and the Scientific Revolution
Notes
Bibliographic Essay
Index

About the Author

Klaas van Berkel is the Rudolf Agricola Professor of History at the University of Groningen.

Reviews

This is an exceedingly rich book... it should be mandatory reading for anyone interested in the origins of modern science. -- Richard T. W. Arthur HOPOS: The Journal of the International Society for the History of Philosophy of Science Van Berkel has uncovered the rich content and historical significance of Beeckman and his journal. -- Fokko Jan Dijksterhuis Metascience Van Berkel has done an admirable job of recreating Beeckman's life and helping us to understand his development and his place in the progress of science in the seventeenth century. -- Sheila J. Rabin Sixteenth Century Journal A thoroughly researched... study of Beeckman's life and scientific achievements. -- Antonio Clericuzio The British Journal for the History of Science