Abstract:

This chapter analyzes how the physics courses of Jean-Robert Chouet
(1642–1731) changed across the twenty years of his career as a professor of philosophy,
first at the Academy of Saumur (starting in 1664) then at the Academy of
Geneva (1669–86). We compare eight surviving student manuscripts, noting much
continuity but also some changes in organization, presentation, and content (in particular
a greater attention to the topics of place and extension important to
Cartesianism). Teaching by dictating a coursebook to students allowed the professor
to adjust his course at every iteration. The students also exercised individual choice
in the format, layout, and trappings of their manuscript coursebook, which could
include an alphabetical index or decorative elements. The most famous of Chouet’s
students whose coursebooks survive is Nicolas Fatio de Duillier (1664–1753), who
was later a friend of Newton’s. He studied philosophy with Chouet in 1678–80 and
his coursebook, which unfortunately does not include the section on physics, is
exceptionally beautifully kept and illustrated.

Keywords Student manuscripts · Physics courses · Academy of Geneva ·
Academy of Saumur · Jean-Robert Chouet · Nicolas Fatio de Duillier

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