Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish

Isobel Falconer

Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish

Isobel Falconer

School of Mathematics and Statistics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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Abstract

During the last five years of his life, 1874-79, James Clerk Maxwell was absorbed in editing the electrical researches of Henry Cavendish, performed 100 years earlier. This endeavour is often assumed to be a work of duty to the Cavendish family, and an unfortunate waste of Maxwell's time. By looking at the history of Cavendish's papers, and the editorial choices that Maxwell made, this paper questions this assumption, considering the importance of Cavendish's experiments in Maxwell's electrical programme, and the implications that he may have derived for developing a doctrine of experimental method.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014
Subtitle of host publication	With the main focus: "Electromagnetism - the Road to Power"
Editors	Malcolm J. Cooper, Edward A. Davis, Peter M. Schuster, Denis L. Weaire
Place of Publication	Pöllauberg, Austria
Publisher	Living Edition/STARNA
ISBN (Print)	978-3-901585-35-7
Publication status	Published - 2017
Event	International Conference on the History of Physics - Trinity College, Cambridge, United Kingdom Duration: 4 Sept 2014 → 5 Sept 2014

Conference

Conference	International Conference on the History of Physics
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Cambridge
Period	4/09/14 → 5/09/14

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Falconer, I. (2017). Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish. In M. J. Cooper, E. A. Davis, P. M. Schuster, & D. L. Weaire (Eds.), Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014: With the main focus: "Electromagnetism - the Road to Power" Living Edition/STARNA.

Falconer, Isobel. / Editing Cavendish : Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish. Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014: With the main focus: "Electromagnetism - the Road to Power". editor / Malcolm J. Cooper ; Edward A. Davis ; Peter M. Schuster ; Denis L. Weaire. Pöllauberg, Austria : Living Edition/STARNA, 2017.

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title = "Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish",

abstract = "During the last five years of his life, 1874-79, James Clerk Maxwell was absorbed in editing the electrical researches of Henry Cavendish, performed 100 years earlier. This endeavour is often assumed to be a work of duty to the Cavendish family, and an unfortunate waste of Maxwell's time. By looking at the history of Cavendish's papers, and the editorial choices that Maxwell made, this paper questions this assumption, considering the importance of Cavendish's experiments in Maxwell's electrical programme, and the implications that he may have derived for developing a doctrine of experimental method.",

author = "Isobel Falconer",

year = "2017",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-901585-35-7",

editor = "Cooper, {Malcolm J.} and Davis, {Edward A.} and Schuster, {Peter M.} and Weaire, {Denis L.}",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014",

publisher = "Living Edition/STARNA",

note = "International Conference on the History of Physics ; Conference date: 04-09-2014 Through 05-09-2014",

}

Falconer, I 2017, Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish. in MJ Cooper, EA Davis, PM Schuster & DL Weaire (eds), Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014: With the main focus: "Electromagnetism - the Road to Power". Living Edition/STARNA, Pöllauberg, Austria, International Conference on the History of Physics, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 4/09/14.

Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish. / Falconer, Isobel.
Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014: With the main focus: "Electromagnetism - the Road to Power". ed. / Malcolm J. Cooper; Edward A. Davis; Peter M. Schuster; Denis L. Weaire. Pöllauberg, Austria: Living Edition/STARNA, 2017.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Editing Cavendish

T2 - International Conference on the History of Physics

AU - Falconer, Isobel

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - During the last five years of his life, 1874-79, James Clerk Maxwell was absorbed in editing the electrical researches of Henry Cavendish, performed 100 years earlier. This endeavour is often assumed to be a work of duty to the Cavendish family, and an unfortunate waste of Maxwell's time. By looking at the history of Cavendish's papers, and the editorial choices that Maxwell made, this paper questions this assumption, considering the importance of Cavendish's experiments in Maxwell's electrical programme, and the implications that he may have derived for developing a doctrine of experimental method.

AB - During the last five years of his life, 1874-79, James Clerk Maxwell was absorbed in editing the electrical researches of Henry Cavendish, performed 100 years earlier. This endeavour is often assumed to be a work of duty to the Cavendish family, and an unfortunate waste of Maxwell's time. By looking at the history of Cavendish's papers, and the editorial choices that Maxwell made, this paper questions this assumption, considering the importance of Cavendish's experiments in Maxwell's electrical programme, and the implications that he may have derived for developing a doctrine of experimental method.

UR - http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1504/1504.07437.pdf

UR - https://www.livingedition.at/en/isbn/9783901585357/

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-3-901585-35-7

BT - Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014

A2 - Cooper, Malcolm J.

A2 - Davis, Edward A.

A2 - Schuster, Peter M.

A2 - Weaire, Denis L.

PB - Living Edition/STARNA

CY - Pöllauberg, Austria

Y2 - 4 September 2014 through 5 September 2014

ER -

Falconer I. Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish. In Cooper MJ, Davis EA, Schuster PM, Weaire DL, editors, Proceedings of the First International Conference on the History of Physics—Trinity College Cambridge, 4–5 September 2014: With the main focus: "Electromagnetism - the Road to Power". Pöllauberg, Austria: Living Edition/STARNA. 2017

Editing Cavendish: Maxwell and The Electrical Researches of Henry Cavendish

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