Programska knjižica - Hrvatsko filozofsko društvo

U okviru grupnih biografija engleskih društava prosvjetitelja pretpostavlja
se ovom prigodom da su neki od nesporazuma između Boškovića i članova
tih društava (npr. Josepha Priestleya) mogli nastati kao posljedica različitog
razumijevanja značajnog prosvjetiteljskog pojma znanosti.
Ključne riječi: Ruđer Bošković, britanski klubovi i društva, »Društvo Mjesečarā«,
znanost
FROM LUNA TO ‘LUNAR MEN’:
RUĐER BOŠKOVIĆ’S PATH THROUGH ENGLISH
INTELLECTUAL CLUBS
In this paper Ruđer Bošković’s stay in England and his contacts with the
English will be considered through the prism of the typical English phenomenon
of “clubbing” in the eighteenth century. Bošković’s arrival in London in
1760 was marked by the publication of his poem De Solis ac Lunae defectibus
that he dedicated to the Royal Society, of which he later became a member.
Years after his departure from England Bošković was still in contact with his
English friends, particularly with Joseph Priestley of the “Lunar Men” from
Birmingham (J. Uglow 2002). The Lunar Society consisted of philosophers,
scientists, industrialists and intellectuals (J. Watt, J. Roebuck), and their activity
began shortly before Bošković’s arrival in England.
Bošković’s poem about solar and lunar eclipses and the “Lunar Men” provides
a framework within which it is possible to map the clubs of Bošković’s
English acquaintances: these clubs, societies and circles had greater practical
importance than the official scientific societies that represented prestige
(R. E. Schofield 1957). Belonging to a society/club/circle did not exclude one
from belonging to another, and membership in them oftentimes led to a fruitful
exchange of opinions and attitudes (K. Olsen 1999; P. Clark 2000). Thus,
for example, Samuel Johnson had his own circle, but was also in contact with
representatives of the Scottish Enlightenment, who had their own very specific
views on the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment (M. Goldie 1991; A. Broadie
2002).
Based on group biographies of the British clubs and societies, it is assumed
that some of the misunderstandings that arose between Bošković and
the members of various intellectual societies (Joseph Priestley, for example)
could have been the consequence of different understandings of the Enlightenment
notion of science.
Key words: Ruđer Bošković, British clubbing, “Lunar Society”, science
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