Linnaeus' Philosophia Botanica by Freer
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations of modern biological systematics and nomenclature. Inspired by the work of his predecessors and contemporaries, Linnaeus was the first scientist to develop a coherent system for describing, classifying and naming organisms. The method he developed, known as binominal nomenclature, is the classification system still used in botany and zoology today. Philosophia Botanica was first published in 1751. Its publication followed that of several earlier works written by Linnaeus such as his Systema Naturae (1735) and Fundamenta Botanica (1736). Philosophia Botanica is an expanded version of Fundamenta Botanica with added commentary, and represents a critical stage in the evolution of Linnaeus' ideas and the development of his binominal nomenclature applied to plants. In this new translation of Philosophia Botanica, example pages from Linnaeus' original Latin text are presented alongside Stephen Freer's English translation of the complete text. The book contains images of all eleven of the original plates, which illustrate the shapes of leaves and other plant structures and forms. Also included are Linnaeus' explanations of the effects of soil and climatic conditions on plant growth, plus six short memoranda that describe Linnaeus' botanical excursions, his ideas for garden lay-out and herbarium construction, and his thoughts on what was required of a botanist and his pupils. The Introduction, dedicated to the memory of Professor William Stearn is by Professor Paul Alan Cox of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Hawaii. This beautifully presented translation of Philosophia Botanica, is a valuable resource to botanists, taxonomists, r storians and all interested individuals, who will gain greater access to, and new insights into, the work of Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern systematics.
". . . . Linnaeus's text of 1751, rendered into a flowing and eminently readable English" and "This book is beautifully produced and well-illustrated. Stephen Freer is to be congratulated on his translation which easily brings 18th century Latin to a modern readership." Dr Mark Newman, Edinburgh Journal of Botany, Dec/Jan. 2006
"The translator's meticulous attention to detail and the publisher's lavish production cannot be praised too highly." The Naturalist, July 2006
".. . . reading this excellent translation . . . Reviewers of the hardcopy edition have already heaped praise on Stephen Freer's skilful and meticulous translation. I can only add gratitude for providing easy access to one of Linnaeus's most important texts." (Prof. Pieter Baas, The Linnean, October 2006).
Linnaeus's Philosophia Botanica is, among other things, a timely reminder of the importance of the classificatory enterprise and the need to continue it. * The Times Literary Supplement *
The translator's meticulous attention to detail and the publisher's lavish production cannot be praised too highly. A valuable resource for taxonomists and of great interest to botanists in general and historians of science. * The Naturalist *
"As translator, Freer is in a sense invisible in this work, and yet his hand is on every page, presenting Linnaeus' ideas and teachings to a new and wider audience . . . straightforward and very readable. This translation is an important contribution to science and its history . . ." Charlotte Tancin, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, June 2006.
"Reading this excellent translation of the Philosophia Botanica, . . . historians, botanists and gardeners are among those who will find it fascinating" Jim Endersby, The Times Literary Supplement, March, 2006
"We must be grateful to Stephen Freer and Oxford University Press for bringing us this excellent translation. I urge you not only to buy it but also to read it, because you will enjoy it." Alex S. George, Systematic Biology, Vol. 55, 2006
Readers of a review commonly wish to know whether the work is worth buying. For this translation the answer is a resounding 'Yes!'. Systematic Biology, Vol. 55 (3):534-536, 2006
All in all this is a delightful and informative translation of a botanical classic...Anyone interested in the history of botany and in teaching botany will enjoy and benefit from reading this book. Plant Science Bulletin, Fall 2005, Vol.51, No.3
"The translator's meticulous attention to detail and the publisher's lavish production cannot be praised too highly." The Naturalist, July 2006
".. . . reading this excellent translation . . . Reviewers of the hardcopy edition have already heaped praise on Stephen Freer's skilful and meticulous translation. I can only add gratitude for providing easy access to one of Linnaeus's most important texts." (Prof. Pieter Baas, The Linnean, October 2006).
Linnaeus's Philosophia Botanica is, among other things, a timely reminder of the importance of the classificatory enterprise and the need to continue it. * The Times Literary Supplement *
The translator's meticulous attention to detail and the publisher's lavish production cannot be praised too highly. A valuable resource for taxonomists and of great interest to botanists in general and historians of science. * The Naturalist *
"As translator, Freer is in a sense invisible in this work, and yet his hand is on every page, presenting Linnaeus' ideas and teachings to a new and wider audience . . . straightforward and very readable. This translation is an important contribution to science and its history . . ." Charlotte Tancin, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, June 2006.
"Reading this excellent translation of the Philosophia Botanica, . . . historians, botanists and gardeners are among those who will find it fascinating" Jim Endersby, The Times Literary Supplement, March, 2006
"We must be grateful to Stephen Freer and Oxford University Press for bringing us this excellent translation. I urge you not only to buy it but also to read it, because you will enjoy it." Alex S. George, Systematic Biology, Vol. 55, 2006
Readers of a review commonly wish to know whether the work is worth buying. For this translation the answer is a resounding 'Yes!'. Systematic Biology, Vol. 55 (3):534-536, 2006
All in all this is a delightful and informative translation of a botanical classic...Anyone interested in the history of botany and in teaching botany will enjoy and benefit from reading this book. Plant Science Bulletin, Fall 2005, Vol.51, No.3
Stephen Freer is a fellow of the Linnean Society of London.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780198569343 |
| ISBN 10 | 0198569343 |
| Title | Linnaeus' Philosophia Botanica |
| Author | Stephen Freer |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2005-08-11 |
| Number of pages | 432 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |