One of the most eclectic and enigmatic of the philosophes, Denis Diderot left an intellectual legacy that has the capacity to stimulate, perplex and even confound. Particularly challenging are his writings on the natural sciences, an area largely neglected by scholars over the past fifty years. In Diderot: natural philosopher Kurt Ballstadt examines the entirety of Diderot's scientific works from the Lettre sur les aveugles to the Elements de physiologie, investigating his fascination with mathematics, experimental physics, chemistry, natural history and medicine, and drawing out the crucial points of contact between these disciplines. Diderot is shown to have a well-constructed philosophy of science and an integrated, sophisticated vision of how the world functions. We are led away from the image of a radical Diderot, champion of disorder, to an analysis of a more systematic thinker whose underlying search for structure characterized both his attitude to the world around him, and the way he wrote about it. Situating these writings on natural philosophy in the intellectual landscape of the Enlightenment, this book will engage Diderot scholars and historians of eighteenth-century science alike.

Alfred Nobel made his name as an inventor and successful entrepreneur and left a legacy as a philanthropist and promoter of learning and social progress. The correspondence between Nobel and his Viennese mistress, Sofie Hess, shines a light on his private life and reveals a personality that differs significantly from his public image. The letters show him as a hypochondriac and workaholic and as a paranoid, jealous, and patriarchal lover. Indeed, the relationship between the aging Alfred Nobel and the carefree, spendthrift Sofie Hess will strike readers as dysfunctional and worthy of Freudian analysis. Erika Rummel's masterful translation and annotations reveal the value of the letters as commentary on 19th century social mores: the concept of honour and reputation, the life of a "kept" woman, the prevalence of antisemitism, the importance of spas as health resorts and entertainment centres, the position of single mothers, and more generally the material culture of a rich bourgeois gentleman. A Nobel Affair is the first translation into English of the complete correspondence between Alfred Nobel and Sofie Hess.

This book presents the latest research, conducted by leading philosophers and scientists from various fields, on the topic of top-down causation. The chapters combine to form a unique, interdisciplinary perspective, drawing upon George Ellis's extensive research and novel perspectives on topics including downwards causation, weak and strong emergence, mental causation, biological relativity, effective field theory and levels in nature. The collection also serves as a Festschrift in honour of George Ellis' 80th birthday. The extensive and interdisciplinary scope of this book makes it vital reading for anyone interested in the work of George Ellis and current research on the topics of causation and emergence.

This book is an enthusiastic account of Pierre Laszlo's life and pioneering work on catalysis of organic reactions by modified clays, and his reflections on doing science from the 1960s to 1990s. In this autobiography, readers will discover a first-hand testimony of the chemical revolution in the second half of the 20th century, and the author's perspective on finding a calling in science and chemistry, as well as his own experience on doing science, teaching science and managing a scientific career. During this period, Pierre Laszlo led an academic laboratory and worked also in three different countries: the US, Belgium and France, where he had the opportunity to meet remarkable colleagues. In this book, he recalls his encounters and collaborations with important scientists, who shaped the nature of chemistry at times of increased pace of change, and collates a portrait of the worldwide scientific community at that time. In addition, the author tells us about the turns and twists of his own life, and how he ended up focusing his research on clay based chemistry, where clay minerals were turned in his lab to catalysis of key chemical transformations. Given its breath, the book offers a genuine information on the life and career of a chemist, and it will appeal not only to scientists and students, but also to historians of science and to the general reader.

Asian studies and Physics is a unique blend rarely found in a Western scientific classroom. The field of Asian studies is rapidly growing and the traditional study of Asian philosophy, art, language and literature is branching out into scientific realms. At the same time, there is a growing need to educate our young people in science technology and mathematics (STEM). Reaching non-science majors with the basic principles of physics presents a particularly unique challenge. The topics presented in this work are designed to appeal to a wide range of students and present scientific principles through the technology and inventions of ancient China. We explore these ideas in their historical Chinese context and through the lens of our current scientific understanding. Our exploration of ancient Chinese science is not limited to just a theoretical understanding of physical principles. One distinction of this book is the strong "hands on" component. Detailed laboratory experiments are included which enable students to analyze ancient technology using modern laboratory techniques. Each experiment introduces the historical context and provides associated Chinese vocabulary. On the surface, these experiments involve recreating a Chinese technology. On a deeper level, we find connections to the scientific method and techniques of experimental analysis. Thus, an activity such as making paper, turns into a lesson on statistics and graphical analysis. Topics included in this volume cover one dimensional motion, energy conservation, rotational equilibrium and elasticity. We also explore the nature of science and include an introduction to the Chinese language. Laboratory experiments cover papermaking, constructing a weighing balance and stress-strain analysis of silk.