Naming the Microscopic World

Chapter 6 explores what is arguably the most peculiar ‘world’ – that revealed by the microscope. The technical challenges and the fleeting nature of microscopic observations hindered the systematic study and naming of this hidden realm, leading to the use of rather vague or metaphorical terms, often diminutives. The first two case studies consolidate and extend findings gained in other contexts. The naming of the microscope itself illustrates that terms for technical innovations could be subject to processes similar to those of natural objects. Meanwhile, spermatozoa were long conceptualised and named as a type of animal. It was not until the nineteenth century that their true nature as a type of cell became widely accepted, yet the terminology persists, continuing to imply an animal-like nature. The third case examines how an assumed analogy between plant seeds and animal embryos led Malpighi to an erroneous description of plant seeds.