9321061 Eamon The history of science is largely the history of "great men" who develop the "great theories" or make the most exciting discoveries. Numerous biographies have been written about Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. Their papers are published; theories-- indeed, even scientific revolutions--are named after them. While the general public certainly knows of these great men, they hardly ever understand the theories which they presented. Instead, they embrace such popular theories as astrology, creationism, and the occult. Legislatures in the United States pass laws to support the presentation of creationism in the schools while whole cultures consult astrologers about appropriate times for important events. Even the first lady of the United States consulted one in order to determine when her husband should hold summit conferences. What is the relationship of science and this popular culture? If we are to understand the role of science and technology in our society, we must examine how scientific theories that we in the scientific community accept as correct relate to theories that capture the attention of popular culture. It is this relationship that Professor Eamon is examining. Specifically, Professor Eamon is examining the relationship between scientific and popular cultures in Italy, focusing on the life, career, and intellectual milieu of the Italian surgeon and natural philosopher Leonardo Fioravanti. Fioravanti appropriated ideas and practices from both scientific and popular cultures, and developed an empiricist natural philosophy that reflected both. He popularized his "science of experience in a series of eight widely read books on medicine, natural philosophy, and social criticism. By showing how Fioravanti understood (and sometimes misunderstood) academic science and medicine, and how he integrated it with his experiences, Professor Eamon hopes to explore the dynamics of cultural appropriation of science and the crea tion of "popular science" that mirrors in a very distorted sense the theories of the leading scientists of his day. ***
