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Adam King and the Literary Context of the Scientific Revolution in Edinburgh

Thu, March 30, 3:30 to 5:00pm, Palmer House Hilton, Floor: Seventh Floor, Montrose 1

Abstract

This paper will discuss the literary and scientific significance of former Professor of Maths and Philosophy at Paris, Adam King’s large unpublished manuscript (1616) of prose commentary and poetic supplements to George Buchanan’s unfinished didactic poem on the moral and natural composition of the universe, De Sphaera. Recent research has established that King gave the work to his nephew William King, who, along with fellow regents, used it for instruction in astronomy/mathematics at Edinburgh. This paper will trace the origins of the didactic tradition of knowledge dissemination in the universities from the mid-16th century to King’s time. It will also show how the radical subject matter of the manuscript (Copernicus, Brahe, Kepler, Galileo) was influenced greatly by the activities of King’s close circle of friends and family, including John Napier, and Thomas and John Craig, as they explored some of the most pressing issues of the Scientific Revolution.

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