%0 Journal Article %J Physis: Rivista Internazionale di Storia della Scienza %D 2005 %T Joan Baptiste Van Helmont and the question of experimental modernism %A Ducheyne, Steffen %X

In this paper, I take up the question to what extent and in which sense we can conceive of Joan Baptista Van Helmont’s (1579-1644) style of experimenting as ‘‘modern.’’ Connected to this question, I shall reflect upon what Van Helmont’s precise contribution to experimental practice has been. I will argue – after having analysed some of Van Helmont’s experiments such as his tree experiment, ice experiment, and thermoscope experiment – that Van Helmont had a strong preference to locate experimental designs in places wherein variables can be more easily controlled (and, ultimately, in relatively closed physical systems such as, paradigmatically, the vessel, globe, or sphere [vas, globus, sphera]). After having reviewed some alternative options, I shall argue that Van Helmont’s usage of relatively isolated physical systems and a moderate degree of quantification is the feature that best characterizes his contributions to ‘‘modern’’ experimentation.

%B Physis: Rivista Internazionale di Storia della Scienza %V 43 %P 305–332 %G eng