Toward Père Castel’s Art of Making Rain and Fair Weather

Join us to discuss a chapter from Prof. Richard’s book manuscript on the life and natural philosophy of the French polymath Louis-Bertrand Castel, S.J. (1688-1757). Richard’s book traces the emergence, development, and dissemination of Castel's insights into the role of human art and industry in producing meteorological, climatic, and geological phenomena. By asking how an eighteenth-century Jesuit came to believe that humans have global agency, and by tracing the reverberations of this belief throughout his oeuvre, he contributes to a growing, interdisciplinary field of research showing that environmental awareness has a longer and richer history than previously thought. The chapter in question (along with a book proposal) will be circulated to registered participants in advance of the meeting. The discussion will take place in person, but remote attendance is possible, if requested in advance.

In addition to being one of TJHRG’s co-founders, Jean-Olivier Richard is an Assistant Professor in the Christianity and Culture program at the University of St. Michael’s College and an affiliate of the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology at the University of Toronto. Jean-Olivier’s research and teaching interests include the relationship of early modern natural philosophy with Christianity, Jesuit history, environmental history, and the history of alchemy, astrology, and magic. His current research focuses on the life and world of the French Jesuit Louis-Bertrand Castel (1688-1757), with a particular emphasis on his theory of the action of man on nature and his polymathic contribution to early Enlightenment thought.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting online. You may ignore this message if you plan to attend in person, but please do register.