'Whewell was one of the last great polymaths, whose insights in the philosophy of science are still being appreciated. From mineralogy to morality, from mathematics to natural theology his intellectual trajectory is full of interest. A most absorbing and welcome collection.'
--Professor John Brooke
This sixteen-volume Collected Works brings together for the first time the best editions of William Whewell's principal writings. Whewell (1794--1886) was largely responsible for inventing the modern disciplines of the history and philosophy of science. He coined scientific terminology such as 'anode' and 'cathode', introduced the term 'physicist', and gave a name to those who study the natural world: 'scientist'. He was one of the last great Victorian polymaths, and this, the only modern edition of his major works, illustrates the diversity of his writing.
This important collection contains two of Whewell's greatest and most well-known works: History of the Inductive Sciences and its sequel The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, which established Whewell as one of the leading philosophers of science. The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences ranks alongside John Stuart Mill's System of Logic (1843) and Herschel's Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831) as one of the masterpieces of Victorian philosophy of science. In addition to these key works on the history and philosophy of science, volumes on scientific research, physics, mathematics, ethics, law, university education, natural theology, church architecture and political economy, are all included here.
Many of Whewell's books went through numerous editions, and the best editions, many rare and unavailable to the modern reader, are present here, giving scholars the unique opportunity to study Whewell's chronological development on a diverse range of subjects. An elaborate bibliographical account in Todhunter's two-volume biography provides the reader with information on the various editions. With an extensive introduction by Richard Yeo, this is an indispensable collection for any study of the history and philosophy of science.
--first ever collected works of a pivotal figure in Victorian science
--contains the best editions of Whewell's major writings
--extensive new introduction
--Professor John Brooke
This sixteen-volume Collected Works brings together for the first time the best editions of William Whewell's principal writings. Whewell (1794--1886) was largely responsible for inventing the modern disciplines of the history and philosophy of science. He coined scientific terminology such as 'anode' and 'cathode', introduced the term 'physicist', and gave a name to those who study the natural world: 'scientist'. He was one of the last great Victorian polymaths, and this, the only modern edition of his major works, illustrates the diversity of his writing.
This important collection contains two of Whewell's greatest and most well-known works: History of the Inductive Sciences and its sequel The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences, which established Whewell as one of the leading philosophers of science. The Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences ranks alongside John Stuart Mill's System of Logic (1843) and Herschel's Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy (1831) as one of the masterpieces of Victorian philosophy of science. In addition to these key works on the history and philosophy of science, volumes on scientific research, physics, mathematics, ethics, law, university education, natural theology, church architecture and political economy, are all included here.
Many of Whewell's books went through numerous editions, and the best editions, many rare and unavailable to the modern reader, are present here, giving scholars the unique opportunity to study Whewell's chronological development on a diverse range of subjects. An elaborate bibliographical account in Todhunter's two-volume biography provides the reader with information on the various editions. With an extensive introduction by Richard Yeo, this is an indispensable collection for any study of the history and philosophy of science.
--first ever collected works of a pivotal figure in Victorian science
--contains the best editions of Whewell's major writings
--extensive new introduction
