The Life of Johannes Wislicenus (1835-1902)

本项目旨在继续研究，最终完成约翰尼斯·威斯利塞努斯(Johannes Wislicenus，1835-1902)的传记，他是19世纪后半叶德国主要的化学家，曾在苏黎世(1860-1872)、维尔茨堡(1872-1885)和莱比锡(1885-1902)领导化学实验室。这笔拨款将在休假期间支持PI撰写传记，并提供资金用于对纽约市、德国堪萨斯城和瑞士的图书馆和档案馆进行最后的研究访问。智力价值传记将利用以前未经审查的档案材料，并将讨论威斯利塞纳斯的化学，主要是他对原子理论和立体化学的倡导。它还将利用他的生平探索19世纪德国科学的文化和制度主题，包括19世纪50年代德国科学与宗教之间的关系，科学和数学教育，19世纪化学的专业培训和科学“人格”的形成，哈勒、苏黎世、维尔茨堡和莱比锡的化学制度历史，以及19世纪后期化学实践的代际转变。这些主题中的许多都没有被科学史学家广泛研究。第二个规模较小的项目是在PI的大本营杜鲁门州立大学开设一门新的本科课程，主题是“生活在科学”。潜在的更广泛的影响威斯利塞努斯的传记将成为科学史学家撰写的越来越多具有历史敏感性的科学家传记的补充。这些传记研究纠正了一种常见但不正确的观点，即科学是一种客观的活动。它们允许我们看到科学家是如何受到培训的更广泛的背景，并通过记录主要的智力影响和具体的社会互动，提供如何在特定的历史和个人背景下进行科学研究的例子。该项目的完成还将增加杜鲁门州立大学学生可学习的科学史课程的数量。

IntroductionThis project is to continue research that will ultimately result in the completion of a biography of Johannes Wislicenus (1835-1902), a major German chemist of the last half of the nineteenth century who directed chemical laboratories in Zürich (1860-1872), Würzburg (1872-1885) and Leipzig (1885-1902). The grant will support the PI during a sabbatical leave to write the biography and provide funds for final research visits to libraries and archives in New York City, Kansas City, Germany, and Switzerland.Intellectual MeritThe biography will draw on previously unexamined archival materials, and will discuss Wislicenus' chemistry, primarily his advocacy for the atomic theory and stereochemistry. It will also use his life to explore cultural and institutional themes in nineteenth century German science, including the relationship between science and religion in 1850s Germany, science and mathematics education, professional training in nineteenth century chemistry and the formation of a scientific "personality," the institutional history of chemistry in Halle, Zürich, Würzburg and Leipzig, and generational shifts in chemical practice during the later nineteenth century. Many of these themes have not been studied extensively by historians of science. A second, smaller project is the creation of a new undergraduate course on "Lives in Science" at the PI's home institution, Truman State University. Potential Broader ImpactsThe biography of Wislicenus will add to the growing number of historically sensitive biographies of scientists written by historians of science. These biographical studies provide a corrective to a common, but incorrect view of science as an impersonal activity. They allow us to see the broader context of how scientists are trained, and provide examples of how science is done in a specific historical and personal context by documenting major intellectual influences and concrete social interactions. Completion of the project will also enhance the number of courses in history of science available to students at Truman State University.