Abstract
Our previous thematic project (Proc. FAPESP 2005/56638-7) focused on an important network of discussions about the principles of matter that extended well into the 18th century. These discussions were characterized by an appeal to laboratory work grounded on a thorough revision of ancient and/or traditional sources. Within this network, two major lines were identified: one maintaining that each kingdom of nature possesses material principles of its own; and another conversely claiming there is one single principle of matter circulating among all three kingdoms. The discovery of previously unknown documents, however, pointed to new research possibilities. Phase II of our thematic project will thus continue to pursue the early modern views on the principle(s) of matter together with new research angles aiming at: 1) a deeper understanding of 17th and 18th century varieties of associatedness, which were the source of crucial developments reshaping the network of scholars; 2) a discussion of the contemporary models to represent the relationship between science and techné, as on the one hand they had a direct say on the role of laboratory work, and on the other, they underlie different routes for the transmission of trade secrets - that probably is one of the major factors explaining the permanence of and the continual search for ancient sources; 3) extending the scope of research up to the 19th century, when the traditional areas of knowledge dismembered towards a modern parametrical system and the notion of principle(s) of matter was overcome; 4) taking up again some topics addressed in our first thematic project (Proc. 1999/12791) as the starting point for more thorough research into the division and reorganization of knowledge leading to varying configurations of the tree of knowledge until modern specialization settled in. (AU)
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