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William Whewell Birth
William Whewell, (born May 24, 1794, Lancaster, Lancashire, England—died March 6, 1866, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire), English philosopher and historian remembered both for his writings on ethics and for his work on the theory of induction, a philosophical analysis of particulars to arrive at a scientific generalization. Whewell’s theological views, which gave rise to his ethical theories, have been assigned an importance secondary to his work in induction. -
Attends Trinity College, Cambridge as a “sub-sizar” (scholarship student)
William Whewell's elementary headmaster(and priest) took note of Whewell's intelligence; consequently Whewell, who came from a working class family, received a scholarship(also known as a "closed exhibition" ) to Trinity college in Cambridge. Reference for image:
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/cheffinsfineart/catalogue-id-srche10138/lot-ada4fdfc-3761-40d1-865f-a88f011ecb35 -
Won the Chancellor’s prize for his epic poem “Boadicea,”
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Ordained a priest (Required for Trinity Fellows)
He was elected to the Royal Society in 1820, and ordained a priest (as required for Trinity Fellows) in 1825 Reference:
Snyder, Laura J. "William Whewell (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2022, plato.stanford.edu/entries/whewell/ Image
:https://www.artuk.org/discover/artworks/william-whewell-17941866-master-18411866-writer-on-the-history-and-philosophy-of-science-134737/search/locations_auto:cambridge/page/63/view_as/grid -
Invented the English Word: "SCIENTIST".
Whewell invented the terms “anode,” “cathode,” and “ion” for Faraday. In response to a challenge by the poet S.T. Coleridge in 1833, Whewell invented the English word “scientist;” before this time the only terms in use in that language were “natural philosopher” and “man of science”. Whewell was greatly influenced by his association with three of his fellow students at Cambridge: Charles Babbage, John Herschel, and Richard Jones. -
"The Great Tide Experiment of 1835".
Organizing a research apparatus of 650 total volunteers in 9 different nations; in 2 weeks 1,000,000 tide measurements were contributed to the project for Whewell's work. Whewell referred to the volunteers as "subordinate laborers". Video Reference: "William Whewell's "Great Tide Experiment" of 1835 - an early crowdsourcing experiment." YouTube, uploaded by The Crowd & The Cloud, 23 Mar. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7oTPkXzF1Q. -
William Whewell Lithograph
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Lectures on Systematic Morality, London: John W. Parker.
Lectures on Systematic Morality, London: John W. Parker. -
Of the Plurality of Worlds. An Essay.
London: John W. Parker. -
"History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Time, 3rd edition, in two volumes; Is published
Whewell analyzed inductive reasoning into three steps: The selection of the (fundamental) idea, such as space, number, cause, or likeness (resemblance);
The formation of the conception, or more special modification of those ideas, as a circle, a uniform force, etc.; and,
The determination of magnitudes. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/history-of-the-inductive-sciences/C0E5D0B8201FF9FC0B8B4E9C9CE060C4 -
On the Philosophy of Discovery: Chapters Historical and Critical, London: John W. Parker.
With a search for universal knowledge through natural science, Whewell dedicated his life to the pursue of learning, "in every act of knowledge... there are two opposite elements, with we may call Ideas and Perceptions" (1860a, 307) He explains how the mind plays an absolute roll in understanding. " the ideas, the germ of them at least, were in the human mind before; but by the progress of scientific though they are unfolded into clearness ands distinctness" (1860a, 373). -
Comte and Positivism" is published
Snyder, Laura J. "William Whewell (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2022, plato.stanford.edu/entries/whewell/ -
William Whewell Death
Whewell died in Cambridge in 1866 as a result of a fall from his horse.[12] He was buried in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, whilst his wives are buried together in the Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge. A window dedicated to Lady Affleck, his second wife, was installed in her memory in the chancel of All Saints' Church, Cambridge and made by Morris & Co. http://www.trinitycollegechapel.com/about/memorials/interments/whewell/
