MAGNETISM IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

By the eighteenth century, the separation of electricity and magnetism was so complete that these two sciences advanced along different paths. Here we will consider only magnetism in the eighteenth century. The century opens with the paradox or conundrum of magnetism at the forefront. This science had not progressed much since the brilliant work of Gilbert had set it upon a new path. The paradox is clearly expressed in the views of Sir Isaac Newton, who we will consider first as the representative for the difficulties and problems associated with magnetic science 1. Magnetic theory was not in crisis, it was merely languishing in neglect and frustration. The great minds of the age were unable to solve its riddle. This situation continued until the end of the century when Coulomb placed magnetism upon a different path that stimulated the development of mathematical models based on the Newtonian theory at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It is ironic that Isaac Newton was unable to resolve the riddle and adhered to the Cartesian model of magnetism 1. This dominated the discourse upon magnetism until the middle of the century. Benjamin Franklin’s discoveries in electricity stimulated interest in a Newtonian theory of magnetism based on the new idea of two magnetic fluids. In the second half of the century a new Newtonian interpretation began to emerge. This was eventually crowned by Coulomb’s achievement of firmly establishing a Newtonian theory of magnetism in at the end of the century. The result is significant, but not spectacular. An entire century was required before progress in a new direction was achieved. Meanwhile field theory continued to languish