Popular science in print Science in the Age of Enlightenment

a portrait of bernard de fontenelle.

however, science took ever greater step towards popular culture before voltaire’s introduction , châtelet’s translation. publication of bernard de fontenelle s conversations on plurality of worlds (1686) marked first significant work expressed scientific theory , knowledge expressly laity, in vernacular, , entertainment of readers in mind. book produced women interest in scientific writing , inspired variety of similar works. these popular works written in discursive style, laid out more reader complicated articles, treatises, , books published academies , scientists. charles leadbetter’s astronomy (1727) advertised “a work entirely new” include “short , easie [sic] rules , astronomical tables.” francesco algarotti, writing growing female audience, published il newtonianism per le dame, tremendously popular work , translated italian english elizabeth carter. similar introduction newtonianism women produced henry pembarton. view of sir isaac newton’s philosophy published subscription. extant records of subscribers show women wide range of social standings purchased book, indicating growing number of scientifically inclined female readers among middling class. during enlightenment, women began producing popular scientific works themselves. sarah trimmer wrote successful natural history textbook children entitled easy introduction knowledge of nature (1782), published many years after in eleven editions.

the influence of science began appearing more commonly in poetry , literature during enlightenment. poetry became infused scientific metaphor , imagery, while other poems written directly scientific topics. sir richard blackmore committed newtonian system verse in creation, philosophical poem in 7 books (1712). after newton’s death in 1727, poems composed in honour decades. james thomson (1700–1748) penned “poem memory of newton,” mourned loss of newton, praised science , legacy:

thy swift career whirling orbs,

comparing things things in rapture loft,

and grateful adoration, light,

so plenteous ray d thy mind below.

while references sciences positive, there enlightenment writers criticized scientists viewed obsessive, frivolous careers. other antiscience writers, including william blake, chastised scientists attempting use physics, mechanics , mathematics simplify complexities of universe, particularly in relation god. character of evil scientist invoked during period in romantic tradition. example, characterization of scientist nefarious manipulator in work of ernst theodor wilhelm hoffmann.