Hans Christian Orsted Reading Nature's Mind

Hans Christian Ørsted (1777-1851) is of great importance as a scientist and philosopher far beyond the borders of Denmark and his own time. At the centre of an international network of scholars, he was instrumental in founding the world picture of modern physics. In 1820 his discovery of electro-magnetism, a phenomenon that could not possibly exist according to his adversaries, changed the course of research in physics. Ørsted was also one of thecultural leaders and organizers of the Danish Golden Age (together with Grundtvig, Kierkegaard, and Hans Christian Andersen, his protegé), and made significant contributions to aesthetics, philosophy, pedagogy, politics, and religion. Ørsted remarkably bridged the gap between science, the humanities, and the arts.

I. THE STUDENT
1. Prologue: Hans Christian Orsted and Dualism in the Golden Age
2. A Childhood without Playing
3. A University without Science
4. Two Philosophical Minds
5. Hans Christian's Gold Medals
6. Anders's Gold Medal
7. Editors for Kant
8. Doctoral Thesis on the Dynamical System
9. Pharmacy-Manager and Fiance
10. Galvanism
II. THE COSMOPOLITAN
11. First Grand Tour. Tourist far away from Sophie
12. Ritter and Winterl
13. Jena Romanticism, Salons and Societies
14. Post-revolutionary Paris
15. Ritter and the Napoleon Prize
16. The Double Game
III. THE RESEARCHER AND TEACHER
17. Alone and Abandoned in Copenhagen with a Collection of Instruments
18. Rivalry and Love
19. Textbook Writer and Professor
20. Napoleon's Imperialism and Fichte's Idealism
21. Sonorous Figures
22. The Art of Music
23. The Royal Danish Society of Sciences and Letters
24. Family and Friends
25. Dialogue on Mysticism. Ritter's Death
IV. THE SPOUSE
26. Career and Brothers Working Together
27. Second Journey Abroad. Berlin and Paris
28. The Major Work
29. The Controversy on Pantheism
30. Love and Marriage
31. The Prime Mover of Science. Gitte's First-born Child
32. Dynamical Research. A.S. Orsted's Dissent
33. Funerals. Expedition to Bornholm
V. THE TRIUMPHATOR
34. The Happiest Year
35. A Discovery by Chance?
36. Domestic and Foreign Reactions
37. The Triumphal Progress. Germany
38. The Triumphal Progress. Paris
39. The Triumphal Progress. Britain
VI. THE ORGANIZER
40. The Society for the Dissemination of Science in Denmark
41. The Orsted Brothers in the Howitz-Controversy
42. Aluminium - Priority and Nationalism
43. The Downfall of A.S. Orsted, the Millennium of Christianity, and the Tercentenary of the Reformation
44. Family Life and Conferences Abroad
45. The Polytechnic Institute
46. The Literary Critic
47. The Awakening of Political Life
VII. FAME & TRIBULATIONS
48. Technology and Industry
49. The Natural Laws of General Education
50. Scandinavian Science Conferences
51. Politics and Nationalism
52. The Centenary of the Royal Danish Society, Magnetischer Verein, Henrik Steffens. The Concept and Conservation of Fundamental Forces
53. Homage in Berlin
54. Aesthetics of Nature
55. Polytechnic Criticism
56. Polytechnic Criticism
57. Civil War and Free Constitution
58. The Soul in Nature
59. Big and Little Hans Christian's Modern Turning Point
60. Jubilee and Death
61. Epilogue: Hans Christian Orsted and the Golden Age in a Wider Perspective