Naming New Things and Concepts in Early Modern Science : The Case of Natural History

Berrens, Dominik

Cambridge University Press（2026/02発売）

• 製本 Hardcover:ハードカバー版／ページ数 370 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9781009622523
• DDC分類 501.4

Full Description

Naming new discoveries is central to science, and for centuries, Latin dominated this process. The resulting terminology still shapes modern science, yet the influences behind its creation have remained largely unexplored. This is the first comprehensive exploration of how modern scientific terminology took shape during the early modern period. Far from being the product of individual scientists or institutions, the development of this terminology emerged over several centuries, involving a remarkably diverse range of contributors. In particular, the process was often influenced by factors unrelated to science itself - such as the appeal of certain linguistic forms or even sheer coincidence - revealing the unexpected and sometimes arbitrary forces behind the creation of technical terms.

Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Neo-Latin as scientific language and the importance of naming; 2. Naming in early modern science; 3. Naming the classes of objects and the disciplines; 4. Natural objects of the old world; 5. Natural objects of the new world; 6. Naming the microscopic world; Conclusion; References; Index.