Converging Dialogues #469 - From Natural Philosophy to Modern Science: A Dialogue with Peter Dear
Jan 29, 2026
Peter Dear, historian of science and Cornell professor emeritus, reflects on the shift from natural philosophy to modern science. Short takes cover Newton and theology, the myth of a single scientific method, Linnaeus and taxonomy, Faraday’s hands-on experiments, the rise of physics, Laplace and the bell curve, and how scientific training and institutions reshaped knowledge.
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The Myth Of A Single Scientific Method
- There is no single mechanical 'scientific method' uniformly followed in practice.
- Scientific success arises from cultural practices and local ways of making knowledge, not a formulaic procedure.
Where Physics Emerged From
- 18th-century 'mixed mathematics' combined abstract math with concrete subject matter like optics or astronomy.
- Many areas that became physics originated as mixed mathematics blending tools and topical knowledge.
Why Linnaeus Worked
- Taxonomy aimed to reveal how God organized creation, not evolutionary relationships.
- Linnaeus succeeded because his rules were practical and useful for consistent classification.
