El abate Juan Ignacio Molina: una vida dedicada a la historia natural y civil del reino de Chile
Cargando...
Archivos
Fecha
2011-09
Autores
Profesor/a Guía
Facultad/escuela
Idioma
es
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
Asociación Geológica Argentina
Nombre de Curso
Licencia CC
Licencia CC
Resumen
Juan Ignacio Molina (1740-1829) nació cerca de Talca, Chile, y falleció en Bolonia, Italia. Es el primer científico chileno. Desde pequeño se interesó por la naturaleza. Se educó con la Compañía de Jesús en diversos lugares de Chile central, lo que le permitió conocer su geografía, fauna, flora y población. Con 15 años ingresó a la Compañía. En 1767, abandonó el país al ser expulsada esta orden de españa y sus dominios. Se radicó en los Estados Pontificios, donde se ordenó de sacerdote y permaneció hasta su muerte. Allí enseñó ciencias naturales y produjo su obra científica: Compendio de la historia geográfica, natural y civil del reino de Chile de 1776, una versión aumentada, Ensayo sobre la historia natural de Chile de 1782 y una segunda en 1810. En ellas, abordó aspectos climáticos, botánicos, geológicos, zoológicos, mineralógicos y geográficos del territorio. Describió el terremoto de Concepción, las erupciones del Villarrica y Peteroa, e hizo referencia a recursos minerales. Diferenció cuatro unidades litoestratigráficas para Chile central. Clasificó plantas y animales siguiendo los criterios de Linneo. En una de sus 14 memorias, Analogías menos observadas de los tres reinos de la Naturaleza, sin podérselo calificar de evolucionista, se destaca su intento de integración entre los "seres" de los tres reinos, y en Sobre la propagación del género humano en las diversas partes de la tierra, propuso tres vías diferentes para el poblamiento de América. En 1802, ingresó a la Academia de Ciencias de Bolonia.
Juan Ignacio Molina (1740-1829), born next to Talca, Chile, and dead in Bologna, Italy, is the first Chilean scientist. His education in establishments of the Society of Jesus, in several localities of central Chile, allowed him to learn about its geography, flora, fauna, and population. At 15 years old he entered the Society. In 1767, he left Chile when the Jesuits were expelled from the spanish territories. In Bologna he produced his scientific contribution. Molina published in 1776 the first of his books, Compendio della storia geográfica, naturale, e civile del regno del Chile. In this one and the others, Molina treated different topics as climatology, botany, geology, zoology, mineralogy, and physical geography. He described his impressions on the Concepción earthquake, the eruptions of the Villarrica and Peteroa volcanoes, and made detailed descriptions of minerals and ore deposits. He differentiated four major lithostratigraphic units. In his descriptions of plants and animals he followed the classification of Linneus. He wrote 14 scientific memoirs. In Analogie meno osservate dei tre regni della Natura, he supports the idea of a gradual transition between all "beings" in the three kingdoms of nature, however, in it he makes no proposition that can be qualified as evolutionary. In Sulla propagazione sucesiva del genere umano he suggests three sources for the population in America. In 1802, he entered the Bolognese Academy of Sciences.
Juan Ignacio Molina (1740-1829), born next to Talca, Chile, and dead in Bologna, Italy, is the first Chilean scientist. His education in establishments of the Society of Jesus, in several localities of central Chile, allowed him to learn about its geography, flora, fauna, and population. At 15 years old he entered the Society. In 1767, he left Chile when the Jesuits were expelled from the spanish territories. In Bologna he produced his scientific contribution. Molina published in 1776 the first of his books, Compendio della storia geográfica, naturale, e civile del regno del Chile. In this one and the others, Molina treated different topics as climatology, botany, geology, zoology, mineralogy, and physical geography. He described his impressions on the Concepción earthquake, the eruptions of the Villarrica and Peteroa volcanoes, and made detailed descriptions of minerals and ore deposits. He differentiated four major lithostratigraphic units. In his descriptions of plants and animals he followed the classification of Linneus. He wrote 14 scientific memoirs. In Analogie meno osservate dei tre regni della Natura, he supports the idea of a gradual transition between all "beings" in the three kingdoms of nature, however, in it he makes no proposition that can be qualified as evolutionary. In Sulla propagazione sucesiva del genere umano he suggests three sources for the population in America. In 1802, he entered the Bolognese Academy of Sciences.
Notas
Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo
Palabras clave
Naturalista chileno, Jesuitas, Abate Molina
Citación
Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. vol.68 no.3 Buenos Aires Sept. 2011