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case1196288181.pdf (271.11 KB)
ETD Abstract Container
Abstract Header
Thomas Young, Quaker Scientist
Author Info
Mathieson, Genevieve
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196288181
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2008, Master of Arts, Case Western Reserve University, History.
Abstract
Thomas Young was a widely accomplished polymath who discovered the principle of interference of light. This was just one of his achievements, made in the midst of practicing medicine, working as both a professional scientist and bureaucrat, deciphering portions of the Rosetta stone, determining the causes of color vision, and writing prolifically on all of these topics. The interference of light was later shown by Fresnel to be conclusive proof that light was vibratory rather than corpuscular. Given Young’s strong support for vibratory theory, this thesis seeks to determine why Young did not pursue his optical theories further. Through study of Young’s Quaker upbringing, an analysis of Quaker schooling and scientific practice, Young’s work and its reception by his scientific peers, I argue that Young’s scientific practice was inextricably linked with his Quaker background.
Committee
Gillian Weiss (Advisor)
Pages
68 p.
Keywords
Thomas Young
;
Polymath
;
Interference of Light
;
Wave Theory of Light
;
Quakerism
;
Quakers and Science
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Refworks
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Citations
Mathieson, G. (2008).
Thomas Young, Quaker Scientist
[Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196288181
APA Style (7th edition)
Mathieson, Genevieve.
Thomas Young, Quaker Scientist.
2008. Case Western Reserve University, Master's thesis.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196288181.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Mathieson, Genevieve. "Thomas Young, Quaker Scientist." Master's thesis, Case Western Reserve University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1196288181
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
case1196288181
Download Count:
1,073
Copyright Info
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.