Cavendish’s Natural Philosophy Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

grounds of natural philosophy, 1668.

eileen o neill provided overview of cavendish s natural philosophy , critical reception in introduction observations upon experimental philosophy. o neill described cavendish s natural philosophy rejecting aristotelianism , mechanical philosophy , favouring stoic doctrines. noted while women wrote natural philosophy in seventeenth century, cavendish published 6 books on subject. o neill pointed out cavendish herself not formally educated in natural philosophy, though william cavendish , brother charles shared interest in subject , supported margaret s interest , study in area. cavendish might have been influenced through social encounters philosophers such thomas hobbes. o neill believed hobbes (who had instructed charles in philosophy) had significant influence on cavendish s natural philosophy , noted cavendish among few seventeenth century supporters of hobbes materialist philosophy, argued incorporeal souls did not exist in nature. beginning in 1660s, cavendish began study work of contemporaries more seriously. o neill suggested such study intended enable cavendish argue own points better contrasting them of other natural philosophers.