Today we have elevated science to a position formerly reserved for religion and, while declaring our minds therefore free, we are accepting as many superstitions as our ancient ancestors who painted themselves blue and copulated while howling at the moon. One of the great myths that we accept with joy is the story of Ben Franklin “Scientist”. The reality is that his electrical “apparatus” was a parlor trick purchased when he “retired” to the life of a “gentleman” and left commerce – hopefully to receive a royal appointment in the colonies. He was just about as “enlightened” as any of the other hack politicians of his – or our – day!
Stealing God’s thunder : Benjamin Franklin’s lightning rod and the invention of America New York : Random House, c 2005 Philip Dray Lightning , Experiments , History , 18th century Hardcover. 1st ed. and printing. xviii, 279 p. : ill. ; 25 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. [229]-239) and index. Clean, tight and strong binding with clean dust jacket. No highlighting, underlining or marginalia in text. VG/VG
Stealing God’s Thunder is a concise, richly detailed biography of Benjamin Franklin viewed through the lens of his scientific inquiry and its ramifications for American democracy. Today we think of Benjamin Franklin as a founder of American independence who also dabbled in science. But in Franklin’s day it was otherwise. Long before he was an eminent statesman, he was famous for his revolutionary scientific work, especially his experiments with lightning and electricity.
Philip Dray uses the evolution of Franklin’s scientific curiosity and empirical thinking as a metaphor for America’s struggle to establish its fundamental values. Set against the backdrop of the Enlightenment and America’s pursuit of political equality for all, Stealing God’s Thunder recounts how Franklin unlocked one of the greatest natural mysteries of his day, the seemingly unknowable powers of electricity and lightning. Rich in historic detail and based on numerous primary sources, Stealing God’s Thunder is a fascinating original look at one of our most beloved and complex founding fathers.
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