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The Academie de Physique was established in Caen, Normandy, France, in 1662. It was the first provincial academy of sciences to be granted a royal charter, and one of the first academies in France to promote both empiricism and scholarly cooperation as the basis for its programs. The academy was in existence from 1662-1672. ==Beginnings (1662-1667)== The academy was founded in 1662 by Andre Graindorge, local physician and natural philosopher, and Pierre-Daniel Huet, a well-known scholar and native of Caen that had recently returned home from a trip to Sweden, where he worked at the court of Queen Christina. Both Graindorge and Huet were members of Caen’s Académie des Belle Letters (then called the Grand Cheval, named for the building where the group held their meetings) whose meetings largely focused on philosophy and literature, much to the frustration of both men, as both had a growing interest in natural philosophy. Graindorge was particularly interested in exploring experiment and examination over the dependence on theory and philosophy. The academy began as a patronage circle, with Huet, the more well known and respected of the two acting as patron and Graindorge directing the program of study. The original group did not have a consistent membership, but served as an informal group of local scientists with similar interests. For the first several years, the group met on an informal basis, mostly meeting to view dissections and discuss them.〔Lux. pp. 22–27.〕 In 1665, the combination of the appearance of a comet, as well as Graindorge’s extended trip to Paris, served to inspire the group’s interest in science and formalize the their activities. While in Paris, Graindorge attends the scientific-themed meetings of the home of Melchisédech Thévenot. At the Thévenot, Graindorge witnessed dissections by the noted anatomist Nicholas Steno and becomes even more convinced of the importance of experiment-based knowledge. He begins corresponding to Huet about what he is seeing in Paris, which Huet uses as a basis for the programs at the academy in Caen. He also becomes convinced that a research-based, cooperative society was the best way to understanding scientific truths.〔Lux. pp. 50–51.〕 The best forum for this was the academy, with information and experience being shared by both the individuals within the academy as well as between other academies throughout Europe. Graindorge returns to Caen in April, 1666, shortly after Huet leaves, and heads up the fledgling organization in Huet’s absence. The membership at this time is made up of, in addition to Graindorge and Huet: * Charles Busnel * Jean Gosslin, le chevalier de Villions * Nicolas Croixmare, sieur de Lasson * Pierre Hauton * Matthieu Maheust de Vaucoulers Given the social hierarchy present in France at the time, Graindorge initially has a difficult time organizing the group under his leadership. He began to use the knowledge he gained in Paris to direct the work of the group, focusing on natural phenomena and animals, such as the causes of dew, snakes and the effects of their venom, as well as investigations of the circulatory system.〔Lux. pp. 66–67.〕 Other members also began to share their experiments and discoveries, such as Vaucoulers, who worked on the weighing air and developed an early version of the barometer.〔Lux. p. 68.〕 However, while Graindorge and to a lesser extent, Vaucoulers, worked on new experiments and investigations, the academy began to deteriorate. Huet’s return to Caen in January 1667 revitalized the academy, as did the news that the academy would be under the protection of the royal intendant for Lower Normandy, Guy Chamillart, upon Huet’s departure from Caen in October, 1667. The academy also grew with the addition of three new members, Jacques Savary, sieur de Courtsigny; Jacques Chasles; and Pierre Cally.〔Lux. pp. 101–102.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Académie de Physique」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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