Somme wy lermtecrual History aN aE Hisrony of PaLosori M.A. Stewart and David Fate Norton, Editor: “This is a monograph series whose purpoee i o foster impeoved sands of historzal sod tex scholarship in the history of philscphy and dred related disciplines, Pro lay is given to emdies thar Sgnicenty advance our undertanding of past thinker through the caefl examination and icerpresstion of eignal sources, wheter printed ex rmanoscrpt, Major wocke and movements in philoophy refletinerets and concerns characterise ofa pantcular age and upbringing, and seemingly cimlessconcepes mat ‘vncy withthe changing background of knowledge and belt tha diferent writers assume in cei ears eis the general eitor? assumption that a sensitiv 1 comtext not ale des nor dea from he phlei inter or gos omen bat acral Csseaial to it They with to encourage studies char present a broad view of «subj? ‘concemporary context, and that make an informative use of philosophical, ceslegcal political, scenic, Inerary, or ater enlateal materia, at appropsate tothe paricul Other Books inthe Serie: Steven M Nader, Amsauld and the Catesion Philosophy of Ide Catherine Wilson, Lebwi's Metaphyice A Hitrical xd Comparative Sindy “Thomas M. Lennon, The Bail of the Gods and Giants: The Legacies of Descartes and Gassends, 1655-715 THE INVISIBLE WORLD EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY AND THE INVENTION OF THE MICROSCOPE Catherine Wilson PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY$$ r | Copyeighe © 1995 by Princeton Univesity Pess 1 Published by Princeton Universi Pres, 41 Wiliam Stet, an Pnccton, New Jersey 08540 Tn ehe United Kingdom: Princeton Univesity Press Chichester, Wes: Sussex a A Rights Reserved ‘Library of Congess Cataloging in Publication Data ‘Wilson, Cathesine,1951— “The invisible word; early mods philocophy and the invention ofthe microscope / Catherine Wilson. | Dee (Sedo intellectual story and che story of philosophy) Thelodes bbliogrepical eferences and index ISBN 0-691-03418-4 ISBN 0-691-0170553 (pbk 1. Philosophy and ence —Europe—History 17h centry. 2, Philo hy, Moder=—17th century. 3. Microscopes Europe—History—17th Fentury. Europe talc! fe 7h cxmary. Tile. Th Series BETWS 1995) FIs -de20 94-24856 CIP “This hook hasbeen composed in Sabon typeface ‘Princeton University Pres hooks ae printed on acid-free paper and mee the {uldclines for pemanence and dara oF the Committee Production Guidelines for Book Longevicy ofthe Council om Library Resources “Third printing, and ese paperback printing, 1997 ptpop prineetonedu Prined inthe United Sates of Ameria wosresssContents Preface 4. Science and Protoscience 2, The Subdety of Nature 3. Instruments and Applications 4, Presxiseent and Emergent Form 5, Animaleula and the Theory of Animate Contagion 6. The Philosophers and the Microscope 7. The fcroscope Superfiuoas end Uncertain 8, Truths and Appearances Bibliography Index 39 70 103 140 176 21s 251 287 273