The Limits of Matter

This compelling work explores how 18th-century scientists redefined our understanding of material reality through their engagement with chemistry and mineralogy, examining how they wrestled with phenomena ranging from witchcraft to subtle matter theories. Fors takes readers into laboratories and scholarly debates where natural philosophers established the very boundaries of what could be considered scientifically valid, creating the foundation for modern material science during this transformative period. The book masterfully demonstrates how these thinkers navigated between emerging empirical methods and lingering beliefs in supernatural entities, ultimately constructing a new framework for understanding the physical world.

What makes this study particularly valuable is its fresh perspective on the Enlightenment, moving beyond traditional philosophical and theological discussions to reveal how practical chemical investigations shaped fundamental concepts of matter. Readers interested in the history of science will appreciate how Fors connects seemingly disparate elements—from laboratory experiments to folklore about trolls—to show how scientific authority was constructed through exclusion and redefinition. This nuanced examination reveals that establishing what counted as "real" involved not just discovery but deliberate boundary-setting that continues to influence scientific practice today.