Richard Kirwan (1733-1812) - Chemist, Barrister and Philosopher - An Exemplar of Good Practice in his Time and for Today - Duncan Thorburn Burns, MRIA. For additional information including audio recordings to accompany this presentation please click here - http://www.ria.ie/library/exhibitions/lunchtime-lecture-series.aspx. Disclaimer: The Royal Irish Academy has prepared the content of this website responsibly and carefully, but disclaims all warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy of the information contained in any of the materials. The views expressed are the authors’ own and not those of the Royal Irish Academy.

1. Richard Kirwan (1733‐1812)
Chemist, barrister and philosopher:
An exemplar of Good Practice in his time
as for Today
D. Thorburn Burns, MRIA, FRSE

2. Lecture outline
A. In period context
B. Life and Times
C. Scientific and technological studies
i) Chemical based
ii) Physical based
D. Metaphysical studies
E. Conclusions

3. Kirwan,in period

5. Life and Times

11. Hypochondria
Dysphagia
Thermophylia
Dipteraphobia
Noctural camelliaphilia

16. Scientific and
technological studies

19. Basic chemical studies
a) Chemical affinity
b) Mineral water analysis
c) The phlogiston theory
d) Chemical nomenclature
e) Hepatic air

20. a) Chemical affinity

23. b) Mineral water analysis

25. c) Phlogiston

30. (i) M. Akeroyd, “The Kirwan‐
Lavoisier debate and approaches
to the evaluation of chemical
theories”, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.,
998,293‐301, (2003).
(ii) P. Thagard, “Explanatory
coherence”, Behav. Brain Sci., 12,
435‐502, see pp, 444‐446.

31. d) Chemical nomenclature

33. e) Hepatic air

37. Applied Chemical Studies
a) bleaching
b) agriculture
c) leather tanning
d) mineralogy, minerals and
mines
e) geology

49. Contributions based on physical
sciences
a) Meteorology
b) Specific heats
c) Magnetism

58. Classical and metaphysical studies

60. Metaphysical Essays
1. On human liberty
2. On space duration and time
3. Of duration, time and eternity
4. On the primeval language of
mankind
5. On human happiness
6. Of the origin of polytheism,
idolatory, and Grecian
mythology

67. Conclusions

68. W. Bains,
“Hypotheses and Humility: ideas
do not have to be correct to be
useful”,
Biosci. Hypoth., 2(1), 1‐3, (2009).

69. Acknowledgements