Thomas Brone and the Writing of Early Modern Science [Paperback]

A major critical evaluation of Thomas Browne's oeuvre in literature, science and philosophy.Claire Preston argues that Thomas Browne's work can be fully understood only within the range of disciplines and practices associated with natural philosophy and early modern empiricism. Early modern methods of cataloguing, collecting, experimentation and observation, drove his writing on many subjects from medicine and botany to archaeology and antiquarianism. In this illuminating study, Preston examines how the developing essay form, the discourse of scientific experiment, and above all Bacon's model of intellectual progress and cooperation determined the un ique character of his contributions to early modern literature, science and philosophy.Claire Preston argues that Thomas Browne's work can be fully understood only within the range of disciplines and practices associated with natural philosophy and early modern empiricism. Early modern methods of cataloguing, collecting, experimentation and observation, drove his writing on many subjects from medicine and botany to archaeology and antiquarianism. In this illuminating study, Preston examines how the developing essay form, the discourse of scientific experiment, and above all Bacon's model of intellectual progress and cooperation determined the un ique character of his contributions to early modern literature, science and philosophy.Claire Preston argues that Thomas Browne's work can be fully understood only within the range of disciplines and practices associated with natural philosophy and early writing on subjects ranging from medicine and botany to archaeology and antiquarianism. Preston examines how the developing essay form, the discourse of scientific experiment, and, above all, Bacon's model of intellectual progress and cooperation determined the unique character of Browne's contributions to early modern literature, science and philosophy.1. Browne's civility; 2. Religio Medici: the junior endeavour; 3. The civill³e