This dissertation discusses the intellectual interests of George, Count of Buquoy (1781-1851), who gained fame in the first half of the nineteenth century through his inventions of new technical devices, his efforts to improve manufacturing technologies used on his estates, his contacts with leading scientists and philosophers of the time, and his original scientific and philosophical treatises. This dissertation scrutinises the writings kept in Buquoy's archival estate, as well as his published works, and discusses the reactions his thoughts elicited among contemporary scientists and various other people within Buquoy's intellectual milieu. Methodologically, I draw on contemporary approaches to studies of intellectual history, which aim to interpret and contextualise particular ideas with regard to the author's immediate background and the broader intellectual climate of the time. Aiming to avoid biographical fallacy, I focus on pivotal moments of Buquoy's scientific career without attempting to integrate them into a biographical narrative by means of supposed causality. The thesis is structured as a chronologically ordered discussion of key themes and defining moments in the development of Buquoy's thought. Particular attention is paid to the influences which formed Buquoy's intellectual outlook, including his upbringing, education, the experiences he gained during travels, the knowledge he absorbed from scholarly treatises, and the views he exchanged with contemporary scientists. I show how these factors influenced the themes Buquoy chose to discuss in his treatises and the ways in which he presented his arguments. An important part of the thesis is a deconstructive analysis of Buquoy's self-presentation strategy, through which he sought to align himself with the scientific community. Finally, the thesis discusses the fundamental philosophical views underpinning Buquoy's intellectual endeavours in the field of science.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:387586 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | MORAWETZ, Michal |
| Source Sets | Czech ETDs |
| Language | Czech |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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