Naslov
Rhetorical devices in Ruđer Bošković’s APPENDIX – Ad Metaphysicam pertinens de ANIMA, & DEO in THEORIA PHILOSOPHIAE NATURALIS

Autori
Varošanec-Škarić, Gordana

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Book of abstracts: Dani Ive Škarića / Stanković, Davor ; Runjić Stoilova, Anita - Postira : Croatian Philological Association, 2018, 57-58

ISBN
978-953-296-146-1

Skup
4. međunarodna konferencija o retorici Dani Ive Škarića

Mjesto i datum
Postira, Hrvatska, 18.04.2018. - 21.04.2018

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Rhetorical devices, Ruđer Bošković, rhetoric of science,

Sažetak
Although the entire Theoria Philosophiae Naturalis by Ruđer Bošković is a brilliant work which is considered to be the beginning of the determinism in non-material atomism, and is interesting for inductive reasoning and other forms of reasoning i.e. causal and analogous, the Appendix is interesting because it reconciles the scientific, non-material atomism in physics with metaphysical necessity of being in Divinum Naturae Opisicem. Venetian edition of Theoria (1763) was used for the analysis of the Appendix because, compared to the Wiener edition (1758) included certain correction and notes accompanying every paragraph among which are 33 paragraphs of Appendix. The reception of the work has complied with the thoughts of the moment it was published, so that it was recognized immediately and it has influenced the scientist in the 19th century and modern atomic physicist who have emphasized the importance of Bošković for the contemporary development of the atomics. Notes on the margins begin with announcement of the topic and its explanation and are in a form of thematic entries (par. 550), announcement of the topic change and thematic entries followed by question (533, 537), entries with a claim (526), detailed entries announcing argument in the specific paragraph (548), entries with refutation followed by a new claim from Bošković (540), claims, string of complex claims in a form of questions (one or two), complex questions (549) answered in certain paragraphs, questions with short answers answered in the notes on margins (542, 551), questions followed after affirmative or negative claim (531, 538, 547, 557). The questions are frequent in the paragraphs or, more specific, string of questions (552, 553). The claim that everything is movement is argued cosmologically ; the fact that the World exists means that its creator must exist. Therefore, the World is caused and the first cause is Divinum Naturae which created the Universe and the laws of nature does not belong to that world but its existence is necessary. Furthermore, materialistic claim about infinite regress Bošković opposes the claim that the actual infinity is not possible (par. 546) meaning that the infinite mass of the matter does not exist but solely finite. He uses rhetorical figures in his explication, primarily logical figures which follow the scheme of the text, primarily, topic announcement, distribution (soul/God), differentiation (soul/matter, soul/body), claims, expanded claims, analogies, inductive arguments, causal arguments, examples and explanations. The presence of refutation in almost every paragraph is interesting, since they refer to disagreements with previous theories or certain claims found in the theories supporting idealistic or materialistic philosophy (i.e. refutation of the predetermination of harmony ; refutation of the claim stated by other philosophers on existence of representative forces in the matter itself). Bošković’s claim that the matter has only the force or action referring to local motion, mutual coming closer and retreating was proven in modern atomics. Particularly interesting rhetorical devices are analogies on infinite combinations of finite number and Virgil’s poem, infinite freedom, the determination and the incredibleness and the rage where the 101 name is, the colour analogy, humorous examples in explanations, tropes etc. This plea for Bošković’s Appendix persuades it is necessary to introduce his scientific, philosophical and poetical work in rhetoric of science, and his works are the evidence themselves.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Filologija

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