Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Invisible College: Bigger and Better

The Invisible College was an informal intellectual enterprise of the 17th century. Robert Boyle described it in a letter to Francis Tallents:

...and yet, though ambitious to lead the way to any generous design, of so humble and teachable a genius, as they disdain not to be directed to the meanest, so he can plead reason for his opinion; persons that endeavour to put narrow-mindedness out of countenance, by the practice of so extensive a charity that it reaches unto every thing called man, and nothing less than an universal goodwill can content it. And, indeed, they are so apprehensive of the want of good employment, that they take the whole body of mankind for their care.


And now there's a great Unseen University where Steve Muhlberger and I can discuss what desconfit meant in middle French in the Uncommon Room, with an entrance in Pennsylvania and an entrance in Ontario. That makes me happy.

Also, this blog recently passed 50,000 visits, not counting those who read it by feed.

Ook.

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