Natural and Artificial Bodies in Early Modern England: Literature, Natural Philosophy, Objects

This book explores how seventeenth-century literature intersected with changing understandings of the conceptual structure of matter,recovering the material and body worlds of the period as treated in poetry,natural philosophy,medical treatises,comedy,and prose fiction. It shows how writers understood and theorized "matter," "bodies," and "spirits" as characters in complex scenarios,facilitating a crossing of boundaries between the human and nonhuman.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate interplay between contemporary perspectives on the human-thing relationship and seventeenth-century writing, shedding light on how the literature of the period intersected with evolving understandings of the conceptual structure of matter. It explores the possibilities for human beings to reimagine their place within a complex web of non-human relations. By examining texts that straddle the boundaries between literature and science, Snider reclaims the material and bodily worlds of seventeenth-century culture as they were treated in poetry, natural philosophy, medical treatises, comedy, and prose fiction. Through his meticulous analysis, he reveals how a diverse range of writers conceived of "matter," "bodies," and "spirits" as characters in intricate and sometimes bizarre scenarios, reflecting the complex relationships between humans and the phenomenal world.

Moreover, this book highlights the significance of the logic that propelled the theorization of matter, enabling a profound crossing of boundaries between the human and nonhuman realms. This logic became a persistent figure of explanation during a time when distinctions between the natural and the artificial were undergoing reformulation, contributing to a more holistic understanding of the world.

In summary, this thought-provoking book offers a rich exploration of the complex relationship between the human and the nonhuman, shedding light on the ways in which seventeenth-century writing influenced our understanding of matter, bodies, and spirits. It provides valuable insights into the historical and cultural contexts that shaped these ideas and encourages us to reevaluate our place in the world today.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138949874