From Atomos to Atom: The History of the Concept Atom (Dover Phoenix Editions)

Widely acclaimed as an outstanding contribution to both science and philosophy, this classic profiles the atom's progress from Grecian philosophy to its physical conception in the 17th century and its modern applications to quantum theory. "Fascinating . . . clear and authoritative." — Philosophy . 1960 edition. Contents Introduction Part One - The Concept Atom Before the Origin of the Physical Atomic Theory Chapter 1 - The Philosophy of Greece 1 Introduction 2 The Importance of Grecian Philosophy 3 The First Grecian Philosophers 4 Democritus 5 The Theories of Anaxagoras and Empedocles 6 Plato 7 Aristotle 8 Grecian Philosophy After Aristotle Chapter 2 - The Middle Ages and the Renaissance 1 General Outline 2 Aristotle's Doctrine of Minima in his Commentators 3 Scaliger 4 Atomism 5 The Development of Practical Chemistry Chapter 3 - The Seventeenth Century 1 The Special Importance of this Century 2 Sennert 3 Basso and van Goorle 4 Gassendi 5 Descartes 6 Robert Boyle 7 The Mechanics of the Seventeenth Century 8 Review of the Seventeenth Century Part Two - The Concept of Atom in Physical Science Chapter 4 - The Origin of the Physical Atomic Theory 1 The Development Before Dalton 2 Dalton's Atomic Theory 3 First Development After Dalton 5 Organic Chemistry 6 The Kinetic Theory of Gases 7 The Electromagnetic Light Theory 8 The Electronic Theory 9 The Development of the Periodic Table 10 The Philosophic Background of the Atomic Theory Around 1900 Chapter 5 - The Atomic Theory in the Twentieth Century 1 The Atomic Model of Rutherford and Bohr 2 The Dualistic Character of Matter 3 Nuclear Physics 4 The Philosophic Background of the Contemporaneous Atomic Theory Chapter 6 - Science of Nature, Philosophy, and Philosophy of Nature 1 Introduction 2 The Right of Philosophy to Exist as a Science in its Own Right 3 The Importance of Ancient Philosophic Systems as Regards Natural Science and General Philosophy 4 The Right to Existence of Natural Philosophy 5 The Value of Greek Philosophy of Nature 6 The Philosophic Background of the Science of Nature 7 Recapitulation Chapter Seven - Epilogue Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects Widely acclaimed as an outstanding contribution to both science and philosophy, this classic work profiles the concept of the atom from earliest to modern times. Author Andrew G. van Melsen traces the Greek atomos from its central position in Greek philosophy to its reemergence from obscurity as the atom in the scientific discussions of the seventeenth century, when it became a fundamental concept of physical science -- and has remained so to the present day. The first part is philosophic in nature and chronicles the atom's progress from Grecian philosophy through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and into the pivotal age of the seventeenth century. The second part, primarily scientific in outlook, examines how the atom evolved into a physical concept; surveys its development into a distinct autonomous structure; and deals with the subsequent evolution of atomic theory that led to the quantum theory. The final chapter addresses some of the philosophic questions that arise in the course of this historical survey, including the highly significant issue of whether there remains room for philosophy alongside physical science. Book jacket English translation of original Dutch edition (Van atomos naar atoom, 1952). Translated by Henry J. Koren.