A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility [Paperback]

Lesley Cormack (Editor), Andrew Ede (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1551113325 | ISBN-13: 978-1551113326 | Publication Date: May 1, 2004

A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility is a concise overview that introduces complex ideas in a non-technical fashion without sacrificing the sophistication and richness of the subject.

Andrew Ede and Lesley B. Cormack trace the history of science through its continually changing place in society and explore the link between the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make that knowledge useful.

Along the way, they discuss the specifics of scientific investigation and discovery. Beginning with a small group of philosophers in ancient Greece and ending with nano-technology, A History of Science in Society covers a vast sweep of time and subject matter. Among the many topics discussed are issues such as intellectual competition, gender and class, the economic exploitation of knowledge, and changing ideas about the environment and our relationship to it. Also included are more than 50 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[This] beautifully written, thorough, and engaging book will be a welcome addition to many scholars’ and students’ bookshelves." -- Deborah E. Harkness, University of California, Davis

Review

A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility is a terrific book.... Informed by recent scholarship on the importance of social constructions in the development of scientific ideas, Ede and Cormack focus on how natural philosophers and scientists increasingly strove to make natural knowledge useful keeps the narrative focused and interesting. Easy to understand diagrams and a thoughtful use of illustrations and other supporting materials will greatly enhance student mastery of difficult concepts. This book is clearly written by two scholars who know how challenging it is to teach the history of science, and their beautifully written, thorough, and engaging book will be a welcome addition to many scholars' and students' bookshelves.

(Deborah E. Harkness, University of California, Davis )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 458 pages
• Publisher: Broadview Press (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551113325
• ISBN-13: 978-1551113326
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars elegant overview, February 18, 2005

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This review is from: A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to Utility (Paperback)

The book has an ambitious remit of explaining the role of science in various societies, since the scientific method first emerged in ancient Greece. Of necessity, much detail has to be omitted. But the authors show skill in explaining the essence of the scientific method, and why some societies, like the Britain that started the Industrial Revolution, were able to apply it successfully.

It is not a book about the intricate details of the sciences. It furnishes an elegantly written overview that gives a nontechnical reader an appreciation of how the sciences developed.