The Reception of Neptune’s Discovery in British and American Protestant Theology

Zenon Roskal; Jacek Rodzeń

The Reception of Neptune’s Discovery in British and American Protestant Theology

Data publikacji: 11.09.2024

Studia Historiae Scientiarum, 2024, 23 (2024), s. 529 - 548

https://doi.org/10.4467/2543702XSHS.24.013.19586

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Tytuły

The Reception of Neptune’s Discovery in British and American Protestant Theology

Abstrakt

The discovery of the planet Neptune in 1846, first theoretically and then observationally, was a 19th-century event that went beyond the interests of the narrow group of astronomers of the time. Indeed, the significance of this event is still a subject of interest among historians and philosophers of science. During the period discussed, natural theology played a special cognitive and social role, forming the basis for arguments based on the new knowledge of nature. This article discusses how the discovery of Neptune was received among the community of 19th-century British and American Protestant theologians, who were always open to scientific research and discoveries.

Odkrycie planety Neptun w 1846 roku, najpierw teoretycznie, a potem obserwacyjnie, było wydarzeniem XIX wieku, które wykraczało poza zainteresowania wąskiego grona ówczesnych astronomów. Rzeczywiście jego znaczenie jest nadal przedmiotem zainteresowania historyków i filozofów nauki. W omawianym okresie szczególną rolę poznawczą i społeczną odegrała teologia naturalna, stanowiąc podstawę argumentacji opartej na nowej wiedzy o przyrodzie. W artykule przedstawiono jak odkrycie Neptuna zostało przyjęte wśród społeczności XIX- -wiecznych brytyjskich i amerykańskich teologów protestanckich, zawsze otwartych na badania i odkrycia naukowe.

Słowa kluczowe

discovery of Neptune, British and American Protestant theology, science and faith relationship, natural theology, history of astronomy

odkrycie Neptuna, brytyjska i amerykańska teologia protestancka, związek nauki z wiarą, teologia naturalna, historia astronomii

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