Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskabs Skrifter

Preface and Table of Contents

Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskab — 2012-03-27

Aspects of Johan Ernst Gunnerus' life and work

Editor: Rolv Nøtvik Jakobsen

Authors: Torkild Bakken, Brita Brenna, John Peter Collett, Eli Fremstad, Jan Ragnar Hagland, Rolv Nøtvik Jakobsen, Steinar Supphellen, Kaare Aagaard

Science, socialbility, and the tools of Enlightenment - Johan Ernst Gunnerus and the Trondheim milieu

Brita Brenna — 2012-03-27

In this article we argue that two recent trends in Enlightenment studies are useful for understanding the establishment of the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences in 1760. First, recent research has presented an understanding of the Enlightenment as an event in the history of mediation. Inspired by this we claim that Enlightenment practices and tools were transposed to Trondheim by the work of Johan Ernst Gunnerus and the others that took part in establishing the Society. Second, we are inspired by works that stress the importance of geography to Enlightenment thought and claim that geographies were produced by, as much as in, Enlightenment practices. By this we argue that Trondheim was neither an obvious place for setting up a Society of Science in the eighteenth century nor a peripheral town. Through means of mediation it could set itself up as central, but it could also be rendered more peripheral by these practices, and this is what happened after the founding fathers of the Society left town or passed away. However, we argue that it is useful to look at the particularities of what happened in Trondheim as part of the practicesof the Enlightenment.

Johan Ernst Gunnerus as a University Reformer of the Enlightenment

John Peter Collett — 2012-03-27

In 1771 J.E. Gunnerus outlined a reform of the University of Copenhagen. The reform plan was commissioned by J.F. Struensee who at the time was the ruler of Denmark and Norway and was part of a wide reform movement aiming at a thorough modernization of the Danish states. The article summarizes parts of the university reform project and discusses them in the context of Enlightenment philosophical thinking on the nature of scientific knowledge. One byproduct of the university reform proposal was a projected university in Norway. The reform proposals came to a standstill when Struensee was overthrown in 1772.

Johan Ernst Gunnerus - Studies of the Norwegian Language

Jan Ragnar Hagland — 2012-03-27

As is well known bishop J. E. Gunnerus contributed substantially to the study of natural science. Less known is his contribution to the study of contemporary Norwegian language. Even if restricted in scope his contribution to the study of Norwegian dialect words deserves attention. A collection of dialect words preserved in the University Library of Trondheim, the Gunnerus Library, was not published till 1980 – a piece of work inspired, as pointed to in the present contribution, both by physico-theological ideas and work in the same field by Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.

Johan Ernst Gunnerus - a conservative theologian and an enlightened scientist (?)

Rolv Nøtvik Jakobsen — 2012-03-27

The article demonstrates the connections between Gunnerus’ scientific writings from his time in Germany and his years as a bishop and a pioneer in natural history research in Norway. Several topics were vital to Gunnerus throughout this period, primarily the theological and apologetic value of natural science research, the relationship between the body and the soul, the freedom of individuals, the two outcomes after death and his interest in scientific societies and collecting. Some comparison with scientific trends in other countries shows that the problems that concerned Gunnerus were among the most popular in that period. A closer examination of his scientific contacts would permit a clearer definition of his profile.There is no reason to regard Pietism and the Enlightenment as being mutually exclusive. Based on this, and supported by Gunnerus’ own texts, it is possible to see how his edifying texts and the theologicaland other scientific articles are closely connected and shed light on each other.

Bishop Gunnerus as naturalist: his impact on biodiversity research today

Torkild Bakken — 2012-03-27

Bishop Gunnerus started his work as naturalist as soon as he arrived in Trondheim. In a pastoral letter to his clergymen he instructed them to collect specimens and information on natural history in their parishes. Gunnerus was a pioneer in natural history among his contemporaries. His description of species (especially of animals), either they were new to science or not, held a high scientific standard and contained detailed information on anatomy and morphological characteristics. In addition, his publications were furnished with high quality illustrations. The publications have shown to be important as reference works and primary sources. Our publication enumerates, for the first time, that the original material from Gunnerus’ collection contains botanical and zoological type specimens. In addition the collection contains specimens that are potential types, or at least aretopotypic specimens.