4. The Practical Turn
First of all it needs to be said that, here, “utilitarianism” is understood in a fairly broad sense.
It is perhaps best described as the belief that the production of knowledge is not so much an
end in itself or an exercise of the mind, but rather that its purpose lies in the formation of a
reservoir of strategies, principles and experiences from which to draw whenever some kind of
practical problem needs to be solved. Because the application of knowledge - its “utilisation”
— hinges on the availability or accessibility of such a reservoir, a key component of any
utilitarian approach to science -3 alongside the application of knowledge itself ||Us the
diffusion of the knowledge that has been accumulated, and particularly in such a manner that
those to whom this knowledge is conveyed can apply it.
As might already have become clear from the previous description of van Marum’s activities,
he spent considerable time and energy both on the application of knowledge, and its diffusion.
As for its application, recall that van Marum devised a number of practical appliances, such as
a fire extinguisher, a ventilation system, and an improved “Papin” cooking pot. That he
developed these devices in itself already underscores how van Marum was all for the
application of knowledge. In all of these cases, his contrivances can be seen as having been
spawned by van Marum’s earlier research, too, i.e. on electricity, the quality of air, or his
medical studies. To express in the terms of the analogy introduced above: he was drawing
from the reservoir of knowledge he himself had created in devising these appliances, with the
aim of improving people’s daily lives.
And van Marum did not only let his deeds speak for themselves, he constantly stressed how
much importance he attached to the use value of knowledge. Again, he already emphasised
this in his inaugural lecture in Haarlem. In fact, the title of the lecture itself constituted
something of a programmatic statement: “Introductory lecture on the use of the study of
nature [natuurkunde] in general, and of medicine in particular”. Bearing in mind that at this
point van Marum was still a registered and practising doctor, it becomes clear how important
“the use of the study of nature” was to him. And although he identifies a better appreciation of
the Creator as one of the benefits of the natural sciences, in van Marum’s view that did not
preclude further, practical benefits. As he phrased it:
“When we fix our attention on the useful applications which the pursuit of the Study of
Nature offers in society, [we see that] it towers above many other sciences in this respect as
well.”129
And, just as with his Christian beliefs, he was no less convinced of the potential benefits the
study of nature held for society as a whole in later years. In a series of lectures for the trustees
on chemistry, which commenced in 1794 for instance, van Marum explained that he had first
turned to chemistry because of
129 “Intree-rede over het nut der natuurkunde in ‘t algemeen, en voor de geneeskonst i n ’t byzonder”; “Vestigen
wy onze aandacht op de nuttigheden, welke de beöeffening der Natuurkunde in de samenleving aanbiedt, niet
minder vertieft zy zieh in dit opzicht boven vele andere wetenschappen.” Marum, Intree-rede over het nut der
natuurkunde in ’t algemeen, en voor de geneeskonst in ’t byzonder, 19-20.
“the extensive insight it gives us into the works of the Creator and the benefits it has provided
in society, and seems to promise in future”.130
As has repeatedly been indicated before, once the French Armies had unexpectedly occupied
the Dutch Republic just a few weeks later, van Marum began to emphasise the past and
potential future benefits of his research even more. In his very first lecture before a larger
audience for example, given a year after the previous statement was made, he opened with the
words:
“Physics [De Natuurkunde] is a science, which, when it is more generally known and
practised, can bring many benefits in society. I have expressly demonstrated this when I
began to give lectures on Physics here in this city more than 18 years ago in a public address,
and experience has since then abundantly confirmed that I have not exaggerated the
usefulness of this science or have said too much in my recommendations of it.” 131
Although van Marum was most likely adapting to political circumstances here, this statement
is not even stretching the truth. In fact the only manner in which his statements on the purpose
of his research during the French period seem to differ from any other period in his life, is that
he always mentions potential benefits to society first, and then the physico-theological aspect,
rather than the other way around. And neither did van Marum stop mentioning potential
practical benefits in later years. In the recollections he penned in the 1820s he repeatedly
chides the trustees for not having attached enough importance to these benefits. By this time,
Napoleon was literally history.
A further indication that van Marum would have been the last to denounce utilitarian ideals, is
that throughout his long life he displayed an immense desire to communicate any knowledge
he had acquired, i.e. to spread it, make it available, and make it understandable. Van Marum
was anything but the reclusive, inaccessible, lonely scholar. The host of lectures he gave, and
from which all the quotes above have been taken, are testimony to this; so is his host of
publications through a wide range of media, i.e. not only in specialists’ journals such as the
Proceedings of Teylers Second Society, but also in more widely read journals such as the
Algemeene Konst en Letterbode\ finally, his copious correspondence underscores his desire to
communicate.
What’s more, even though Teylers Museum was still a far cry from an educational centre that
conveyed knowledge through its displays, van Marum attached some importance to the fact
that it should serve as a possible resource for those who wanted to learn more about nature
130 “het uitgebreide inzien het geen zij ons in den werken van den Schepper geeft en het nut het geen zij in de
zamenleeving heeft aangebracht, en verder schijnt te belooven hebben”; “Lectiones Physico-chemicae, juxta
Fourcroy Philos. Chem., ut et De inflammatione et combustine legni, alcorumque combustulium et de
extinct ione incendiorum”, 08.11.1794, Haarlem, NHA, Archief van Marum, voi. 529, nr. 12.
131 “De Natuurkunde is eene wetenschap, die, wanneer zij meer algemeen gekend en beoeffend worde,
veelvuldige voordeelen in de zamenleeving kan aanbrengen. Dit heb ik, voor ruim 18 Jaaren, toen ik aanving
hier ter steede Natuurkundige Leszen te houden, door eene openbaare redenvoering, opzetlijk aangetoond, en de
ondervinding heeft sederd overvloediglijk bevestigd, dat ik toen geenzins de nuttigheid deezer wetenschap te
groot heb opgegeeven o f ter aanprijzing van diezelve [unreadable] te veel gezegd heb.” “Openbare lessen in
1795 & 1796”, 11.11.1795, Haarlem, NHA, Archief van Marum, voi. 529, nr. 12.