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Encyclopedia Britannica - Main :: WAT-WIL |
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WHEWELL, WILLIAM (1794-1866) , British philosopher and historian of science, was born on the 24th of May 1794 at Lan-caster. His father, a carpenter, wished him to follow his trade, but his success in mathematics at Lancaster
Cambridge (1812). He was second wrangler in 1816, became fellow and tutor of his college, and, in 1841, succeeded Dr Wordsworth as master. He was professor of mineralogy
Whewell was prominent not only in scientific research and philosophy, but also in university and college administration. His first work, An Elementary Treatise on Mechanics (1819), co-operated with those of Peacock and Herschel in reforming the Cambridge method of mathematical teaching; to him in large measure was due the recognition of the moral and natural sciences as an integral part of the Cambridge curriculum (185o). In general, however, especially in later years, he opposed reform: he defended the tutorial system, and in a controversy with Thirlwall (1834) opposed the admission of Dissenters; he upheld the clerical fellowship system, the privileged class of" fellow-commoners," and the authority of heads of colleges in university affairs. He opposed the appointment of the University Commission (1850), and wrote two pamphlets (Remarks) against the reform of the university (1855). He advocated as the true reform, against the scheme of entrusting elections to the members of the senate, the use of college funds and the subvention of scientific and professorial work.In 1826 and 1828, Whewell was engaged with Airy in con-ducting experiments in Dolcoath mine, Cornwall
opinion , the History was to be regarded as an introduction to the Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences (184o). The latter treatise' analyses the method exemplified in the formation of ideas, in the new inductions of science, and in the applications and systematization of these inductions all exhibited by the History in the process of developmentIn the Philosophy, Whewell endeavours to follow Bacon's plan for discovery of an effectual art of discovery. He examines ideas (" explication of conceptions ") and by the " colligation of facts endeavours to unite these ideas to the facts and so construct science. But no art of discovery, such as Bacon anticipated, follows, for " invention, sagacity, genius " are needed at each step. He analyses induction into three steps:(1) the selection of the (fundamental) idea, such as space, number, cause or likeness; (2) the formation of the conception, or more special
special
Here, as in his ethical doctrine (see ETHICS), Whewell was moved by opposition to contemporary English empiricism. Following Kant, he asserted against J. S. Mill the a priori nature of necessary truth, and by his rules for the construction of conceptions he dispensed with the inductive methods of Mill. Between 1835 and 1861 Whewell was the author of various works on the philosophy of morals and politics, the chief
contract , family rights and government), and of the cardinal virtues (benevolence, justice, truth, purity and order). Among Whewell's other workstoo numerous to mentionreference must be made to writings popular in their day, such as the Bridgewater Treatise on Astronomy (1833), and the essay, Of the Plurality of Worlds (1854), in which he argued against the probability of planetary life, and also to the'Platonic Dialogues for English Readers (1859-1861), to the Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy in England 1852), to the essay, Of a Liberal Education in General, with particular reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge (1845), to the important edition and abridged translation of Grotius, De :lure belli et pacis (1853), and to the edition of the Mathematical Works of Isaac Barrow (186o).Full bibliographical details are given by Isaac Todhunter, W. Whewell: an Account of his Writings (2 vols., 1876). See also Life of W. Whewell, by Mrs Stair Douglas (1881). End of Article: WHEWELL, WILLIAM (1794-1866) If you wish, you can link directly to this article.
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