„Das Medium ist die Botschaft“

Theatra als Bühnen des wissenschaftlichen Selbstverständnisses

Abstract

Considering the fact that theatre and theatricality in early modern times obviously possess a special significance for the representation of knowledge, the present contribution focuses on the question, to what extent Theatrum Literature reflects a particular understanding of sciences in this time. Books being entitled ‘theatrum’ and for instance dealing with natural and technical explanations seem to be endeavours compensating a widely provable epistemological relativity and uncertainty in 17th century sciences. The recurrent opulence and magnificence of illustrating engravings and the practice of editing these treatises in several volumes evoke these books being substantially characterized by theatrical categories as rhetoric and illusionism. They principally make these books appearing as stages suggesting the full ability of reigning over the world although they always select and only achieve the maximum approach to the ideal of a perfect knowledge. Moreover these attempts of compensation are corresponding with Giulio Camillo’s Theatrum memoriae and stand out not only against the objectiveness of former Specula but also against editorial forms of accumulation of knowledge in later times.