The diffusion of Spanish physics-astronomy terminology: the case of tourbillon by Descartes from the Spanish version of Conversations on the plurality of worlds by Fontenelleinoculación de las viruelas

Abstract

Here are presented the translations of Entretiens sur la pluralité des mondes (1686) by Fontenelle, a mixture of scientific vulgarisation close to science fiction. We focus especially in the 18th century version in which Descartes’ theory of turbillons is disseminated, explained and even corrected in footnote. This text is used as a starting point to sketch the history of turbillones, torbellinos, remolinos or vórtices cartesianos in Spanish in their terminological variation.