Oxford Philosophical Club

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John Wilkins of Wadham College, Oxford, founder of the Oxford Philosophical Club

The Oxford Philosophical Club refers to a group of

Royal Society of London
.

Wilkins was

1645 group in London.[2]

The term Oxford Philosophical Society may refer to this club, or at least two later societies.

Views

A number of the Club's leading members showed a united front in opposition to

Puritan views, as followers of the line of John Conant, but not with the wish for open theological clashes.[5] One of the aims of the group was in theology, however: to develop a natural philosophy which would be at the same time "mechanical" and providential.[6]

Participation

Those attracted to Oxford directly by the presence of Wilkins include Ward,

Laurence Rooke, and Christopher Wren. Others who became involved were Ralph Bathurst, Thomas Willis, and Matthew Wren.[7] Robert Boyle moved to Oxford in 1655/6 and joined the group; when Wilkins moved to Cambridge in 1659 Boyle accommodated the continuing meetings.[8] Around 1652 Wilkins was very active on behalf of the club and Wadham as a scientific centre, bringing in technical expertise including that of Ralph Greatorex, and finding ways to finance equipment. Eventually Wadham had a laboratory area.[9] Wilkins continued to assemble his group, and it came to include also Richard Lower, his relation Walter Pope, William Holder,[10] and Nathaniel Hodges.[11] Robert Hooke became involved, through his work for Willis and then Boyle.[12] It has been suggested that Daniel Coxe was also linked to the club in the later 1650s.[13]

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-521-80252-9
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  2. ISBN 978-0-85244-587-7
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  3. ISBN 978-0-19-951014-6
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  4. ISBN 978-0-19-957049-2
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  5. ISBN 978-0-19-951014-6
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  6. ISBN 978-0-521-52016-4
    . Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  7. ^ Barbara J. Shapiro (1969). John Wilkins 1614-1672. University of California Press. p. 118 and p. 124. GGKEY:BA7AHU7B3TC. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  8. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3137. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  9. ^ Lisa Jardine, The Curious Life of Robert Hooke: The man who measured London (2003) pp. 69–72.
  10. ^ Jardine, pp. 76–77.
  11. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66142. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  12. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13693. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  13. ISBN 978-0-7923-6782-6
    . Retrieved 5 November 2012.
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