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Intelligencers, Cliques, and Stars in the Spread of 17th -Century Cartesianism

Silvia Donker
Silvia Donker
   | May 18, 2024
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Article Category: Article
Published Online: May 18, 2024
Page range: 4 - 32
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/connections-2019.031
Keywords
© 2024 Silvia Donker, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1:

Illustration showing how a star-shaped network in bipartite configuration (A) becomes a clique (B) in the projection where one shared circle (B1) becomes a connection between all authors.
Illustration showing how a star-shaped network in bipartite configuration (A) becomes a clique (B) in the projection where one shared circle (B1) becomes a connection between all authors.

Figure 2:

Network graphs of the slices of Layers 1 and 2. The colors correspond to clusters, where roughly the orange clusters are authors tied within Dutch environments, green within British, and blue within French.
Network graphs of the slices of Layers 1 and 2. The colors correspond to clusters, where roughly the orange clusters are authors tied within Dutch environments, green within British, and blue within French.

Figure 3:

Layer 2, Slice 2 (1586–1700) More high-weighted edges exist among knowledge circles in the Netherlands (orange) and Britain (green) than in France (blue).
Layer 2, Slice 2 (1586–1700) More high-weighted edges exist among knowledge circles in the Netherlands (orange) and Britain (green) than in France (blue).

Figure 4:

Network graph for Layer 1, Slice 3: co-affiliation for authors between 1586 and 1700. Nodes colored by “tradition” attribute. Blue: Newtonian, red: Cartesian, yellow: scholastic, grey:eclectic or not specified.
Network graph for Layer 1, Slice 3: co-affiliation for authors between 1586 and 1700. Nodes colored by “tradition” attribute. Blue: Newtonian, red: Cartesian, yellow: scholastic, grey:eclectic or not specified.

Figure 5:

The network slices of Layers 3 and 4. Colors correspond to clusters, where roughly the orange clusters are authors tied within Dutch environments, green within British, and blue within French.
The network slices of Layers 3 and 4. Colors correspond to clusters, where roughly the orange clusters are authors tied within Dutch environments, green within British, and blue within French.

Figure 6:

The biggest connected component of the bipartite network for Layer 4, Slice 3 (author-publication place, 1586–1700). The graph shows publication-place-hubs in Paris and London. The red nodes are the publication cities, the gray nodes are the authors. Size according to degree.
The biggest connected component of the bipartite network for Layer 4, Slice 3 (author-publication place, 1586–1700). The graph shows publication-place-hubs in Paris and London. The red nodes are the publication cities, the gray nodes are the authors. Size according to degree.

Figure 7:

Network graph for Layer 4, Slice 3: co-publication place for authors between 1586 and 1700. Nodes colored by “tradition” attribute. Blue: Newtonian, red: Cartesian, yellow: scholastic, gray: eclectic or not specified.
Network graph for Layer 4, Slice 3: co-publication place for authors between 1586 and 1700. Nodes colored by “tradition” attribute. Blue: Newtonian, red: Cartesian, yellow: scholastic, gray: eclectic or not specified.

Description of the time slices for each network layer.

Slice Name Time frame Years covered Number of authors Geographical range
1 Pre-Cartesian 1586–1637 51 36 Netherlands, Britain, France
2 Cartesian 1586–1687 101 160 Netherlands, Britain, France
3 Newtonian 1586–1700 114 175 Netherlands, Britain, France

j.connections-2019.031.tab.002

Degree Author Score Betweenness Author Score Eigenvector Author Score
1. Co-affiliation
1030 SNELLIUS 8 1071 VENO 0.0541176 3023 JACK 0.452810
1071 VENO 8 1030 SNELLIUS 0.0471148 1064 MURDISON 0.436308
1004 BURGERDIJK 7 2017 DESCARTES 0.0364146 1030 SNELLIUS 0.349756
1065 RENERI 7 2168 MERSENNE 0.0330532 1065 RENERI 0.343279
Slice 1 3023 JACK 7 2145 BÉRIGARD 0.0308123 1071 VENO 0.337054
1064 MURDISON 6 2157 GASSENDI 0.0263305 1004 BURGERDIJK 0.328555
1076 Spranckhuysen 6 1004 BURGERDIJK 0.0238655 1076 Spranckhuysen 0.322635
2168 MERSENNE 4 1065 RENERI 0.0053782 1011 GUTBERLETH 0.164470
1011 GUTBERLETH 3 3023 JACK 0.0042017 2017 DESCARTES 0.058146
2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 3 1076 Spranckhuysen 0.0003361 1032 VERHEL 0.056726
1024 REGIUS 42 2057 DU MOULIN 0.110625 1026 SCHOOCK 0.265475
1026 SCHOOCK 42 2168 MERSENNE 0.074352 1024 REGIUS 0.254287
1027 SENGUERD 39 1015 ISENDOORN 0.064694 1027 SENGUERD 0.245768
1071 VENO 38 3032 NEWTON 0.057066 1023 RAEY 0.209960
Slice 2 1009 GORLAEUS 37 2018 DU HAMEL 0.048133 1072 VOLDER 0.209960
1060 LINDEN 37 2157 GASSENDI 0.044051 1020 LOENEN 0.208370
1045 BEECKMAN 36 1045 BEECKMAN 0.043824 1065 RENERI 0.208370
2057 DU MOULIN 36 2017 DESCARTES 0.041256 1050 BRUYN 0.199737
1007 DEUSING 35 2041 NOEL 0.036893 1067 SCHUYL 0.199737
1020 LOENEN 35 1024 REGIUS 0.033459 1073 VRIES 0.194743
1047 BOERHAAVE 53 1047 BOERHAAVE 0.060459 1026 SCHOOCK 0.239049
1057 HUYGENS 51 1057 HUYGENS 0.054692 1024 REGIUS 0.229590
1024 REGIUS 47 2168 MERSENNE 0.045200 1027 SENGUERD 0.227076
1026 SCHOOCK 47 2018 DU HAMEL 0.043053 1072 VOLDER 0.198344
Slice 3 1027 SENGUERD 44 3092 CONNOR 0.040145 1023 RAEY 0.198344
1071 VENO 43 2157 GASSENDI 0.037851 1065 RENERI 0.196032
1009 GORLAEUS 42 1015 ISENDOORN 0.037372 1020 LOENEN 0.192994
1012 HARTSOEKER 42 2057 DU MOULIN 0.036340 1050 BRUYN 0.185926
1060 LINDEN 42 2041 NOEL 0.031390 1067 SCHUYL 0.185926
2057 DU MOULIN 42 1024 REGIUS 0.031119 1073 VRIES 0.181739
2. Co-affiliation place
2157 GASSENDI 9 1030 SNELLIUS 0.081008 2168 MERSENNE 0.336375
2168 MERSENNE 9 1071 VENO 0.077227 2157 GASSENDI 0.336266
1030 SNELLIUS 8 2017 DESCARTES 0.076891 2177 ROBERVAL 0.331439
1071 VENO 8 2168 MERSENNE 0.075630 2179 Bourdelot 0.331439
Slice 1 2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 8 2145 BÉRIGARD 0.074370 2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 0.331439
2003 ABRAHAM DE LA FR. 8 2157 GASSENDI 0.074370 2003 ABRAHAM DE LA FR. 0.331439
2014 CRASSOT 8 1004 BURGERDIJK 0.032269 2014 CRASSOT 0.331439
2027 FREY 8 1065 RENERI 0.004958 2027 FREY 0.331439
2052 SOREL 8 3023 JACK 0.003782 2052 SOREL 0.331439
2177 ROBERVAL 8 1076 Spranckhuysen 0.000336 2017 DESCARTES 0.044564
1015 ISENDOORN 44 2057 DU MOULIN 0.142795 1026 SCHOOCK 0.264853
2057 DU MOULIN 43 1015 ISENDOORN 0.132943 1024 REGIUS 0.253570
1024 REGIUS 42 2168 MERSENNE 0.055271 1027 SENGUERD 0.245631
1026 SCHOOCK 42 3022 HOBBES 0.047200 1023 RAEY 0.209945
Slice 2 1027 SENGUERD 40 1045 BEECKMAN 0.046973 1072 VOLDER 0.209945
1071 VENO 38 2177 ROBERVAL 0.044881 1020 LOENEN 0.207940
2168 MERSENNE 38 2007 BAYLE 0.036053 1065 RENERI 0.207940
1009 GORLAEUS 37 2155 DECHALES 0.030097 1050 BRUYN 0.199180
1045 BEECKMAN 37 2041 NOEL 0.027780 1067 SCHUYL 0.199180
1060 LINDEN 37 2178 VILLEMANDY 0.027690 1073 VRIES 0.194205
1047 BOERHAAVE 85 1047 BOERHAAVE 0.097136 1047 BOERHAAVE 0.203733
1057 HUYGENS 84 1057 HUYGENS 0.094769 1057 HUYGENS 0.199925
1012 HARTSOEKER 74 1012 HARTSOEKER 0.065836 1026 SCHOOCK 0.198422
3092 CONNOR 62 2057 DU MOULIN 0.040231 1012 HARTSOEKER 0.196985
Slice 3 1015 ISENDOORN 51 3092 CONNOR 0.036894 1027 SENGUERD 0.189696
2057 DU MOULIN 49 2046 REGIS 0.035294 1024 REGIUS 0.189385
1024 REGIUS 47 1015 ISENDOORN 0.032695 1023 RAEY 0.166912
1026 SCHOOCK 47 2155 DECHALES 0.027896 1072 VOLDER 0.166912
1027 SENGUERD 46 2157 GASSENDI 0.023704 1065 RENERI 0.164339
2046 REGIS 46 2041 NOEL 0.023160 1020 LOENEN 0.161876
3. Co-publisher*
2006 BASSON 2
2017 DESCARTES 2
Slice 1 3096 GILBERT
1076 Spranckhuysen 2 (Meaingless) (Meaningless)
1
3023 JACK 1
2017 DESCARTES 11 2017 DESCARTES 0.420029
3005 BOYLE 10

2017 DESCARTES

3005 BOYLE

1007 DEUSING

1050 BRUYN

3028 LE GRAND

2018 DU HAMEL

3090 CLERKE

0.003662

0.003423

0.000955

0.0009553

0.000955

0.000557

0.000557

 1007 DEUSING 0.364578
1007 DEUSING 7 1050 BRUYN 0.364578
1050 BRUYN 7 1005 CLAUBERG 0.356469
Slice 2 1005 CLAUBERG 6 1024 REGIUS 0.356469
1024 REGIUS 6 2006 BASSON 0.356469
2006 BASSON 6 3096 GILBERT 0.356469
3028 LE GRAND 6 1013 HEEREBOORD 0.099443
3090 CLERKE 6 1019 KYPER 0.099443
3096 GILBERT 6 1067 SCHUYL 0.099443
2017 DESCARTES 11 2017 DESCARTES 0.413808
3005 BOYLE 10

2017 DESCARTES

3005 BOYLE

1007 DEUSING

1050 BRUYN

3028 LE GRAND

2018 DU HAMEL

3090 CLERKE

0.003056

0.002857

0.000797

0.000797

0.000797

0.000465

0.000465

 1007 DEUSING 0.359179
1007 DEUSING 7 1050 BRUYN 0.359179
1050 BRUYN 7 1005 CLAUBERG 0.351190
Slice 3 1004 BURGERDIJK 6 1024 REGIUS 0.351190
1005 CLAUBERG 6 2006 BASSON 0.351190
1024 REGIUS 6 3096 GILBERT 0.351190
1028 SENGUERD 6 1013 HEEREBOORD 0.097971
1047 BOERHAAVE 6 1019 KYPER 0.097971
1061 LIPSTORP 6 1067 SCHUYL 0.097971
4. Co-publication place
2017 DESCARTES 19 2017 DESCARTES 0.276951
2021 DUPLEIX 14 2021 DUPLEIX 0.267178
2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 13 2017 DESCARTES 0.289916 2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 0.265720
2003 ABRAHAM DE LA FR. 13 2006 BASSON 0.077311 2003 ABRAHAM DE LA FR. 0.265720
Slice 1 2008 BOUJOU 13 1004 BURGERDIJK 0.052941 2008 BOUJOU 0.265720
2011 CHAMPAIGNAC 13 3096 GILBERT 0.052941 2011 CHAMPAIGNAC 0.265720
2014 CRASSOT 13 2021 DUPLEIX 0.040336 2014 CRASSOT 0.265720
2027 FREY 13 3004 BACON 0.010924 2027 FREY 0.265720
2034 LE ROY 13 2034 LE ROY 0.265720
2052 SOREL 13 2052 SOREL 0.265720
3044 WHITE 87 2017 DESCARTES 0.296417 3044 WHITE 0.163875
2017 DESCARTES 75 3044 WHITE 0.119346 3015 DIGBY 0.159032
3015 DIGBY 75 1073 VRIES 0.063052 3018 ESPAGNET 0.159032
3018 ESPAGNET 75 1028 SENGUERD 0.042672 2021 DUPLEIX 0.145555
Slice 2 2021 DUPLEIX 60 3015 DIGBY 0.042592 2017 DESCARTES 0.143690
2007 BAYLE 51 3018 ESPAGNET 0.042592 2018 DU HAMEL 0.140837
2018 DU HAMEL 49 2021 DUPLEIX 0.041558 2007 BAYLE 0.140428
2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 48 3028 LE GRAND 0.036973 2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 0.140245
2003 ABRAHAM DE LA FR. 48 3096 GILBERT 0.035604 2003 ABRAHAM DE LA FR. 0.140245
2004 BARBAY 48 1007 DEUSING 0.034850 2004 BARBAY 0.140245
3044 WHITE 94 2017 DESCARTES 0.224105 3044 WHITE 0.156231
2017 DESCARTES 83 1012 HARTSOEKER 0.101351 3015 DIGBY 0.148668
3015 DIGBY 81 3044 WHITE 0.101045 3018 ESPAGNET 0.148668
3018 ESPAGNET 81 3015 DIGBY 0.043502 2021 DUPLEIX 0.141638
Slice 3 1012 HARTSOEKER 75 3018 ESPAGNET 0.043502 2044 POURCHOT 0.141638
2021 DUPLEIX 66 1008 GEULINCX 0.033486 2017 DESCARTES 0.140054
2044 POURCHOT 66 1073 VRIES 0.033486 1012 HARTSOEKER 0.139792
2007 BAYLE 56 3028 LE GRAND 0.031206 2018 DU HAMEL 0.134171
2018 DU HAMEL 54 3096 GILBERT 0.030342 2007 BAYLE 0.133811
2002 ABRA DE RACONIS 53 2006 BASSON 0.029760 2022 DU ROURE 0.133669

j.connections-2019.031.tab.003

Nodes Nodes BCC** Ties Ties BCC Components Diameter GC Network density Density BCC “Tradition” Assrt. “Tradition” Assrt. BCC Degree Assrt.
1. Co-affiliation
Slice 1 36 16 42 35 17 5 0.066667 0.291667 0.080139 0.121339 0.463926
Slice 2 160 123 862 861 37 7 0.067767 0.114754 0.028613 0.028709 0.646136
Slice 3 175 132 1123 1122 43 7 0.073760 0.129771 0.035031 0.035137 0.547374
2. Co-affiliation place
Slice 1 36 21 71 67 12 5 0.112698 0.319048 −0.014128 −0.004708 0.529566
Slice 2 160 135 1351 1351 26 5 0.106211 0.149364 0.022183 0.022183 0.414559
Slice 3 175 145 1825 1825 31 5 0.119869 0.174808 0.026044 0.026044 0.170386
3. Co-publisher
Slice 1 36 3 4 3 33 1 0.006349 1.000000 −0.142857 −0.500000 1.000000
Slice 2 160 14 95 32 108 3 0.007469 0.351648 0.015107 −0.174781 0.108104
Slice 3 175 14 107 32 118 3 0.007028 0.351648 0.009027 −0.174781 0.182325
4. Co-publication place
Slice 1 36 26 115 114 10 4 0.182540 0.350769 −0.065461 −0.060822 0.510787
Slice 2 160 139 1973 1970 19 5 0.155110 0.205401 0.023061 0.022832 0.506951
Slice 3 175 153 2381 2378 20 5 0.156388 0.204506 0.020731 0.020569 0.504742
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