The Philosopher's Tree

Michael Faraday has a good case to be crowned as the greatest experimental scientist who ever lived. His discoveries in electrochemistry, electromagnetism, dia-and para-magnetism and above all the unification of the forces of nature, continue to provide the backdrop against which the physical sciences operate at the end of the 20th century. Yet his contribution was more than simply scientific discovery. He was a fervent advocate of better understanding of science by the population at large, an inspirational lecturer on science to young people, advisor to governments and, perhaps most importantly, a deeply moral and spiritual man, whose life was founded on strongly held beliefs about man, society and religion. This book brings together for the first time a comprehensive selection of his writings, taken from all aspects of his life, intimate and public. They show the relationships between his many activities, especially with the Royal Institution, for whose bicentenary this collection is published.