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Latin in a Time of Change: The Choice of Language as a Signifier of New Science?

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Peer-reviewed

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Abstract

This essay discusses three authors from the early seventeenth century (Galileo, Descartes and Van Helmont) and the reasons guiding their decision to write occasionally in their respective vernacular languages although Latin remained the accepted language for learned communication. From their own writings we can see how their choices were social, political, and always of high importance. As multilingual authors their choice of language conveyed a sometimes implicit, sometimes explicit message. The combination of usage of both Latin and vernacular proved, on the one hand, their place in the international learned community, on the other hand, their interest and investment in changing the educational system.

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Keywords

4303 Historical Studies, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, 5002 History and Philosophy Of Specific Fields

Journal Title

Isis

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0021-1753
1545-6994

Volume Title

108

Publisher

University of Chicago Press
Sponsorship
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/M001938/1)
This essay was written with the support of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Grant Reference: AH/M001928/1.