The Accademia del Cimento ( Accademia dell' esperimento ), is the first scientific learned society to use the experimental method galiléenne in Europe (1657).

History

Supplementing the Accademia dei Lincei of Rome born in 1630 and the Accademia degl' Investiganti of Naples in 1650, it is founded with Florence in 1657 by Léopold de Médicis and the Large-duke of Tuscany Ferdinand II of Médicis and counts among its pupils Galileo Galilei, Evangelista Torricelli and Vincenzo Viviani. Giovanni Borelli and Niccolò Stenone was members.

Initially installed with the Palate Pitti, close to the Ferdinand Large-duke who takes part in the development of some of the instruments (introduction of the Esprit-de-vin for the thermometer), the academy is then transferred in the Palate from Castellani, become since the Musée of the History of science.

Principles

It must observe the following principles:

• the Experimentation (the examination of the real causes in this period hinge of the development of Science),
• refutation of the nonfounded speculations,
• the creation of the scientific instruments of laboratory,
• the definition of the measuring units,
• publication of the results obtained.

Publications

Report/ratio written by its secretary on the made natural experiments with L Academy of the Experimentation under the protection of Prince Léopold of Tuscany.

• In 1666, initial edition of Saggi di Natvrali Esperienze fatte nell' Accademia del Cimento sotto the protezione del Serenissimo Principle Leopoldo di Toscana E descritte dal Segretario di essa Accademia .

• In 1684, an english language version under the title Test off Natural Experiments made in the Academie del Cimento under the protection off the Most Serene Prince Leopold off Tvscany. Written in Italian by the secretary off that academy . Englished by Richard Waller. London, Printed for B. Alsop, 1684.

• In 1731, translated into Latin under the title Tentamina Experimentorum Naturalium captorum in Academia del Cimento sub auspiciis Serenissimi Principis Leopoldi Magni Etruriae Ducis and ab ejus Academiae Secretario conscriptorum: ex Italico in Latinum Sermonem conversed. Quibus Commentarios, Nova Tested, and Orationem Of methodo instituendi Experimenta Physica addidit Petrus van Musschenbroek. Also published in Vienna in 1756.
• Republished in Italian under the title Atti E Memorie New dell' Accademia del Cimento, E Notizie Aneddote dei Progressi delle Scienze in Toscana, Contesrenti… Memorie, Esperienze… cominciando da Galileo Galilei fino has Francisco Redi and has Vincenzo Viviani inclusive ; by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti (1712 - 1783) in Florence in 1780.
• It becomes then the standard handbook of the laboratories of the 18th century (Settecento).

Participating members

In addition to the members having observed the imposed methods of admission, Francesco Redi, Lorenzo Magalotti ( secretary ), Vincenzo Viviani, Giovanni Alfonso Borelli, Carlo Renaldini and others is nevertheless present at all the meetings which are held regularly with the Palais Pitti. The members carry out many experiments there, mainly in the field of the Thermométrie, the barometry and the Pneumatique, by using the means carried out in-house.

The currency, still known nowadays, adopted by the Academy was “ Provando E riprovando ” is “ While testing and by rejecting ”.

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