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The Fire/Heat Concept and Its Journey from Prehistoric Time into the Third Millennium

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Abstract

The notion of fire/light/heat/energy is recognized as an integrating element in the pathway of ordering matter and society, and its historical aspects are thoroughly reviewed. Fire is argued to be a philosophical archetype and its role in the early concept of four elements is discussed. The Indian, Arabic and Greek historical bases are mentioned. Alchemy is briefly reviewed as a source of the wider adoption of fire. The era of renaissance and the new age are also included. The message of fire/heat is nowadays focused on the progress of civilization, with the assumption of engines as information transducers based on the conscious exploitation of fire. The role of chaos is emphasized. Overall, a condensed but consistent view is given of the various concepts that emerged during the historical progress of the understanding of heat (noting 61 references).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities, Charles University, Areal ‘u Kříže’ 10, CZ-158000, Prague

    J. Šesták

  2. Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Cukrovarnická 10, CZ-16253, Prague, Czech Republic

    J. Šesták

  3. Macaulay Institute of Soil Science Research, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

    R. C. Mackenzie

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  1. J. Šesták
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  2. R. C. Mackenzie
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Šesták, J., Mackenzie, R.C. The Fire/Heat Concept and Its Journey from Prehistoric Time into the Third Millennium. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 64, 129–147 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011532928660

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