The significance of the Royal Society

Question 1

‘Invisible college’

Answer 1

• Formed by a group of natural philosophers in 1645

- A loosest organised collective who shared an interest in experimental investigation

Question 2

1660 Restoration

Answer 2

• Not until then that the political climate was suited to the formation of a more formal organisation - Charles II’s interest in science inevitably contributed to the swift royal charter given to the society

Question 3

When was the Royal Society formally proposed?

Answer 3

November 1660 - at a lecture by the architect Christopher Wren - established in July 1662

• Met once a week and its membership included Locke, Samuel Pepys, John Dryden and the Earl of Sandwick joined by an array of astronomers, biologists, botanists, chemists, mathematicians and pysicists

Question 4

Timeline of the Royal Society

Answer 4

1660 - founded
1662 - receives Royal Charter from Charles II
1663 - John Aubrey investigates the Neolithic stone circles at Avebury - effectively founding modern archeology
1677 - Field of microbiology born when members of Society observe in micro-organisers under a microscope
1687 - Newtons’ Principia published
1703 - Newton elected present

Question 5

Structure of the Royal Society

Answer 5

• Divided into number of committees - each responsible for different areas of study - first few years marked by a genuine variety of research in areas other than science
• Including an investigation into the best way to improve the English language

Question 6

Early experiments in the Royal Society

Answer 6

• Favoured Bacon’s methods in all areas of intellectual endeavour - only after 1684 that the society dedicated itself solely to scientific pursuits

Question 7

Why have some historians downplayed the significance of the Royal Society?
Counterpoint to this?

Answer 7

• As simply a channel for scientists to air discoveries, because it didn’t really give them any assistance
• However - its Baconian aim to gather all knowledge about nature made it extremely well respected - it agreed to make all its knowledge available for the public good and not just for a small clique of intellectuals

Question 8

‘Philosophical Transactions’

Answer 8

• The society encouraged foreign scholars to share their discoveries, with the publication of the first scientific journal in 1665 - ‘Philosophical Transactions’

Question 9

How was the sharing of information the society’s greatest strength?

Answer 9

• E.g. - Marcello Malpighi - wrote to the society after he observed capillary action in the lungs of frogs - turned out to be the missing link in William Harvey’s theory of blood circulation

Question 10

How did the Society create a model for other countries to follow?

Answer 10

• French Royal Academy of Sciences - 1666

- Prussian Academy of Sciences - 1700

Question 11

Funding of the Royal Society

Answer 11

• Endowments from wealthy men all over Europe - many of whom saw themselves as amateur scientists

Question 12

Society’s demonstrations to the public

Answer 12

• Anatomical dissections of the bodies of criminals

- Showed that the society’s work was intended for the public good

Question 13

Science by 1688

Answer 13

• Was part of the public consciousness - supported strongly by Charles II - no longer viewed with suspicion
• Gave a boost to the rising belief that humans could progress without divine assistance
• Contributed to overall aims of the Enlightenment - or Age of Reason - that begun in the 1650s