"Kepler's Earthly Alembic and the Distillation of Weather Conditions"

Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Place: 6th Floor Conference Room, Chemical Heritage Foundation

Johannes Kepler conceived of the earth as an animate being, performing natural processes in the same way as other organisms. In opposition to prevailing opinion Kepler argued that these processes proved the existence of a sublunar soul. Boner suggests that Kepler’s animate conception of the earth, expressed in his earliest writings, stemmed in part from his knowledge of alchemy. Further, he shows how this knowledge informed his innovative portrayal and prediction of weather conditions.

Patrick J. Boner received his Ph.D. in history and philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of History of Science and Technology, Johns Hopkins University. Patrick’s research on early modern cosmology has recently led him to the role of alchemy in the interpretation of celestial novelties at the turn of the seventeenth century. Patrick is currently preparing for publication his doctoral dissertation, “Kepler’s Living Cosmos: Bridging the Celestial and Terrestrial Realms.”