Emilie du Chatelet: "A normal woman and a good scientist"
5/31/2012
0:00
10:57
Patricia Fara, historian of science at the University of Cambridge, talks about Emilie du Chatelet (1706 - 1749), mathematician, translator and populariser of Newton's work in France. We learn about:
du Chatelet's background and education (time 0:28)
her interest in Newtonian ideas (0:52)
her relationship with Voltaire (1:32)
her attitude to life and science (2:11)
the book Elements of the Philosophy of Newton (2:49)
her translation of Newton's Principia (4:19)
what was behind du Chatelet's achievement (6:11)
her context: differences between French and English society in her time (6:51)
a parallel with Mary Somerville (8:15)
du Chatelet as a woman in science (9:42)
More information, worksheets and other resources for the undergraduate mathematics curriculum: www.beingamathematician.org
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