Cantitate/Preț
Produs

Physics and Psychics: The Occult and the Sciences in Modern Britain: Science in History

Autor Richard Noakes
en Limba Engleză Paperback – 10 iun 2020
This is the first systematic exploration of the intriguing connections between Victorian physical sciences and the study of the controversial phenomena broadly classified as psychic, occult and paranormal. These phenomena included animal magnetism, spirit-rapping, telekinesis and telepathy. Richard Noakes shows that psychic phenomena interested far more Victorian scientists than we have previously assumed, challenging the view of these scientists as individuals clinging rigidly to a materialistic worldview. Physicists, chemists and other physical scientists studied psychic phenomena for a host of scientific, philosophical, religious and emotional reasons, and many saw such investigations as exciting new extensions to their theoretical and experimental researches. While these attempted extensions were largely unsuccessful, they laid the foundations of modern day explorations of the connections between physics and psychic phenomena. This revelatory study challenges our view of the history of physics, and deepens our understanding of the relationships between science and the occult, and science and religion.
Citește tot Restrânge

Toate formatele și edițiile

Toate formatele și edițiile Preț Express
Paperback (1) 23818 lei  6-8 săpt.
  Cambridge University Press – 10 iun 2020 23818 lei  6-8 săpt.
Hardback (1) 75682 lei  6-8 săpt.
  Cambridge University Press – 16 oct 2019 75682 lei  6-8 săpt.

Din seria Science in History

Preț: 23818 lei

Nou

Puncte Express: 357

Preț estimativ în valută:
4560 4740$ 3781£

Carte tipărită la comandă

Livrare economică 05-19 februarie 25

Preluare comenzi: 021 569.72.76

Specificații

ISBN-13: 9781316638569
ISBN-10: 1316638561
Pagini: 419
Dimensiuni: 153 x 230 x 25 mm
Greutate: 0.56 kg
Editura: Cambridge University Press
Colecția Cambridge University Press
Seria Science in History

Locul publicării:Cambridge, United Kingdom

Cuprins

List of figures and tables; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. New imponderables, new sciences; 1.1 Animal magnetism as physics; 1.2 The oddity of od; 1.3 Outdoing the electric telegraph; 1.4 'Scientific men' and spiritualism; 1.5 Extending the boundaries of physics; 2. A survey of physical-psychical scientists; 2.1 Inventing psychical research; 2.2 Identifying physical-psychical scientists; 2.3 Connecting physical-psychical scientists; 2.4 Gold mines of science, handmaids to faith; 2.5 Changing attitudes to psychical investigation; 3. Psychical effects and physical theories; 3.1 Removing scientific 'stumbling blocks'; 3.2 Challenging materiality; 3.3 Dim analogies; 3.4 Maxwellian psychics; 3.5 Doubts and criticisms; 4. Psychical investigation as experimental physics; 4.1 From psychic force to the radiometer; 4.2 Tying mediums with electricity; 4.3 Magnetic sense or nonsense?; 4.4 Physical as psychical laboratories; 4.5 Wanting opportunities?; 5. Expertise in physics and psychics; 5.1 Scourging spiritualists and scientists; 5.2 Tricky instruments of psychics; 5.3 Tricky instruments of physics; 5.4 Psychical researchers and conjurors; 5.5 N-rays and psychical expertise; 6. Modernising physics and psychics; 6.1 Busy men; 6.2 'Applied' psychical research; 6.3 Lodge's etherial body; 6.4 Interpreting Lodge's physics and psychics; 6.5 Interwar transitions; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Recenzii

'Physics and Psychics is a much-anticipated contribution to scholarship by the preeminent historian of science studying the interaction of science and occultism in this period. Noakes's masterful book, focused on the years 1870–1930, will be essential for scholars of modernism in art, literature, and culture more generally.' Linda Dalrymple Henderson, University of Texas, Austin
'Richard Noakes knows more than anyone else in the world about the complex ways physics and psychical research interacted in the decades around 1900, and in this incisive book he shows us just how permeable the boundary between science and the seemingly supernatural was in those days - and perhaps still is.' Bruce J. Hunt, University of Texas, Austin
'Richard Noakes's ground-breaking book casts important new light on the place of physics in Victorian spiritualism, and the place of spiritualism in Victorian physics. This detailed and compelling study shows just how important the psychic world was in the development of the physical sciences at the end of the nineteenth century.' Iwan Rhys Morus, Aberystwyth University
'This book provides new and fascinating insights into the historical links between physics and psychical research. It shows that the interest of eminent physicists in the subject was initially surprisingly widespread and that this was important in gaining it scientific recognition. Recent developments in physics have rekindled an interest in the link with psychical research, which makes this work particularly timely.' Bernard Carr, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, Queen Mary University of London, and former President of the Society for Psychical Research
'The book includes a wealth of footnotes and other apparatus, and instructive illustrations.' M. Dickinson, Choice
'Noakes's humane account reminds us that both enterprises have included rational, productive, and creative scientists whose ambitions, however vaunted, deserve respect and understanding.' Lucy Rhymer, Science in History
'… a wonderful, rich, and detailed book.' Ruth Heholt, Victorian Studies

Notă biografică


Descriere

Noakes' revelatory analysis of Victorian scientists' fascination with psychic phenomena connects science, the occult and religion in intriguing new ways.