The airpump symbolized the power of experimental science from "summary" of Leviathan and the Air-Pump by Steven Shapin,Simon Schaffer
The airpump, a technological device that was used by Robert Boyle in the 17th century to investigate the properties of air, played a significant role in symbolizing the power of experimental science. Boyle's experiments with the airpump were not just about discovering how air behaves, but they also served a larger purpose – to establish the authority and legitimacy of experimental methods in natural philosophy. By using the airpump to create a vacuum and observe the effects of removing air from a confined space, Boyle sought to demonstrate the power of experimental manipulation in understanding the natural world. The airpump allowed Boyle to conduct controlled experiments that could be repeated and verified by other scientists, thereby establishing a new standard of knowledge production based on empirical evidence. The airpump also represented a shift in the way scientific knowledge was produced and validated. Instead of relying solely on philosophical speculation or ancient...
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