Abstract

This paper explores how a set of observations on the weight of lead were interpreted and assessed between the 1540s and the 1630s across three different interconnecting disciplines: medicine, mineralogy and chemistry. The epistemic import of these discussions will be demonstrated by showing: 1) the changing role and articulation of experience and quantification in the investigation of metals; and 2) the notions associated with weight in different disciplinary frameworks. In medicine and mineralogy, weight was not considered as a specific subject of inquiry in itself, but as a “sign” indicating other relevant properties of metals. In contrast, the chemistry tradition was increasingly concerned with the specific investigation of weight as a property of matter, as seen in the debates that took place in the “chemical revolution.” In addition, this study will reveal the versatility, polysemy, and parallel purposes of the recourse to experiential knowledge in different contexts, where the same “facts” operate within different disciplines.

中文翻译：

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重量的实验与量化：金属重量的近文艺复兴与现代医学，矿物学和化学讨论

摘要

本文探讨了如何在1540年代和1630年代之间的三个不同的相互联系的学科：医学，矿物学和化学领域对一组铅的重量的观察结果进行解释和评估。这些讨论的认识论意义将通过以下方式得到证明：1）金属研究中经验和量化的作用和表达方式的变化；2）在不同的学科框架中与权重相关的概念。在医学和矿物学中，重量本身并不被视为特定的研究主题，而是被视为指示金属其他相关特性的“标志”。相反，如“化学革命”中发生的辩论所示，化学传统越来越关注对作为物质性质的重量的特定研究。此外，