Nemesis Divina (Archives Internationales D'histoire Des IDEES/International Archives of the History of Ideas, Volume 177) (International Archives of ... internationales d'histoire des idées) [Hardcover]

Carl von Linné (Author), Michael John Petry (Editor)

Book Description

Series: International Archives of the History of Ideas Archives internationales d'histoire des idées | Publication Date: May 22, 2001

Linnaeus' mature theodicy, his attempt to reconcile the suffering and evil of the world with the omnipotence and goodness of God, is presented in a condensed form in the final editions of his Systema Naturae (1758/68). In this comprehensive compendium of our knowledge of the three great realms of organic nature, he outlines the significance of the sub-conscious, social awareness and theological orientation in the spiritual life of man, and indicates how fate, fortune, and Providence interrelate within his conception of the Deity. In the Nemesis Divina this general undertaking is developed into an `experimental theology', which is exactly analogous to Linnaeus' work in the natural sciences, in that it involves the collecting and classifying of concrete and carefully described case-studies. He never prepared the manuscript for publication, however, and for many years it was regarded as lost, and it is only very recently that any attempt has been made to publish it in its entirety. This is the first English translation of all the relevant manuscript material. It is also the first attempt to analyse the case-studies in the light of what we know of Linnaeus' general taxonomic principles, and to relate each of them to its historical context.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: "This book is a fascinating addition to the ongoing reappraisal of the Enlightment, from new expositions of local contexts and scientific practice to reassessment of the realms of spirit and the flesh. … structured as a series of statements about the basis of human biological, social and spiritual life. … This book joins the analytical and biographical studies of recent years in broadening Linnaeus’s intellectual life. Granting access to Linnaeus’s philosophical musings about humanity, it reveals the strong urge to manage, scientifically, matters of morality." (William C. Kimler, British Journal of the History of Science, Vol. 38 (2), 2005)

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Swedish

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 504 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (May 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792368207
• ISBN-13: 978-0792368205
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,479,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.