This document discusses the language used to describe strange facts in early modern science. During the 17th century, scientists encountered many new phenomena that seemed strange. Scientific societies reported on strange occurrences. Scientists like Robert Hooke described observations, like views of flies under microscopes, using poetic rather than scientific language. There was debate between Aristotelian and Baconian views on whether to generalize or take strange particulars seriously. Describing strange facts strained everyday language. Scientists aimed to create a neutral language to document phenomena without interpretation. The language of strange facts was deliberately superficial rather than seeking essences.

1. Language of Strange Facts
in Early Modern Science
Rishabh Shukla
MTech Fellow, Science Communication
NCSM Kolkata
February 5, 2016

2. Overview:
1. Strange Facts
Mock Sun
Bologna Stone
2. Reporting
Science
Academies
3. Scientists
standpoint
Aristotelian
Baconaian
4. Our Role
As
Scientist/Resea
rcher
As Reporter/
Journalist

3. Mock Suns is an atmospheric
phenomenon that consists of a
pair of bright spots on either side
on the Sun, often co-occurring
with a luminous ring known as a
22° halo.
Strange Facts:
Bologna Stone, attained some
notoriety among alchemists for
the phosphorescent specimens
found in the 17th century
near Bologna by Vincenzo
Casciarolo.

4. Aurora Borealis, when first
observed by Edmund Halley and
Robert Boyle was comprehended
as the conflicts of Men in Sky .
Strange Facts:
Fly seen under microscope, by
Robert Hooke was described as a
thing of beauty. He used a
language of poet rather than a
scientific examiner.

5. During 17th Century, When men was less aware of science, they came across
new facts, and many of them were strange.
Reporting of Strange Facts in 17th Century:
Scientific societies were swarmed with reports of strange phenomena.
Paris Academy of Sciences proclaimed “Our century, so full of marvels of all
kinds.”
In infancy these may seem vague, but may lead to paradigm shift when
studied carefully.
Stones from Magnesia Magnets

6. 1. Science is the corpus of
demonstrated, universal truths,
that which is always or that which
is for the most part.
Bacon’s ViewAristotle's Views
Case of Aristotle and Bacon
1. Natural philosophy would have
to take not only particulars but also
strange particulars seriously.
For we are not to give up the investigation until the properties and qualities
which are taken as miracles are comprehended as fixed law, so that all the
irregularity can have common form.
2. Aristotelian natural philosophy
shunned singularities and
anomalies unless they can be
generalized.
2. As these strange facts would act
as epistemological brake over-hasty
generalizations and axioms.

7. Problem in describing Strange Facts:
1.Unburdening the description.
2. Texture of strange facts require new genre and
a narrative form that would preserve the info.
3. Strange facts strained the boundaries of
everyday experience and everyday language.
Caption: The monster has been born in on
St. Jacob’s Day and that “our holy father
pope” has ordered that it to be given no food
and allowed to die.
In order to safeguard the neutrality of strange
facts with respect to religious and political
interpretations as well as with respect to revival
scientific theories natural philosopher should
create a language that would not only forswear
but also discourage interpretation.
Scientific Issue given a Religious Shape.

8. Our Role as Science Communicators:
They say "I understand something about the
world, you don't, let me explain it to you".
Neither definition necessitates that what they say is True, just what they
know to the best of their ability and understanding.
They say “I’m there, you are not, let me tell you
about it”

9. Conclusion:
Strange facts no longer play a central role in scientific empiricism.
The language of strange facts aimed neither at transparency nor probability
but rather at density and distinctness.
It is a deliberately epidermal language, a language of surfaces rather than
essences, of secondary rather than primary qualities – a true language of
phenomenon.

10. Thank You
About Author:
Lorraine Daston (born June 9,
1951, East Lansing, Michigan) is an
American historian of science. Executive
director of the Max Planck Institute for the
History of Science (MPIWG) in Berlin, and
visiting professor in the Committee on
Social Thought at the University of
Chicago, she is considered an authority on
Early Modern European scientific
and intellectual history. In 1993, she was
named a fellow of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences.