Natural Science in Western History (Complete) (v. 1 & 2) [Paperback]

Frederick Gregory (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0618224106 | ISBN-13: 978-0618224104 | Edition: 1

Natural Science in Western History provides an up-to-date and comprehensive survey of western science from ancient times through the Enlightenment to the present. Author Frederick Gregory, past president of the History of Science Society, applies his expertise in teaching the history of science to this thorough and visually interesting survey. Numerous photographs and line drawings throughout this dynamic text illustrate some of the more complex scientific principles. Every chapter discusses a philosophical topic in the history of western science, including such topics as science vs. magic, mathematics vs. nature, and evolution vs. natural selection.

Product Details

• Paperback: 625 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 1 edition (October 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618224106
• ISBN-13: 978-0618224104
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,425 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb treatment of the history of science!, December 25, 2009

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Michael Willers "Michael Willers" (Northampton, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Natural Science in Western History (Complete) (v. 1 & 2) (Paperback)

Many authors have tried and failed to illuminate the history of science, simply because they are unable to attain the perfect balance called for by such an endeavor. The scope of the history of science is so vast, and the complexity of many of the theories so overwhelming, that it is easy for an author to lose the way, and to end up telling a tale of the personalities of science, or the politics of the day, or to say, "Oh well, the science here is complicated, so let's not get into it." An author may describe in detail the quirks or idiosyncracies of each scientist, but leave the science out of the story. Or, an author may become lost in the scientific theories to the detriment of explaining the political and social climate of the time. In fact, many seemingly promising works on the history of science fall off course, and become mired thus.

To our great fortune, such an ill fate has not been suffered by Frederick Gregory. He has achieved that which has been achieved by no other historian of science to such a degree -- he has achieved a superb balance between telling the personal stories of natural philosophers and scientists; describing in exactly the right amount of detail the thinking behind their work and theories; painting a picture of the social and political happenings of their time and explaining how they were important; and, most notably, touching on those issues in the philosophy of science that are raised by the history he is telling.

Admittedly, the work is not perfect. It was written for an undergraduate audience. The readers in such an audience can, of course, vary greatly in terms of interest and aptitude. The beginning of the book is written in such a way that it seems as if Gregory was trying to appeal to the least common demoninator, rather than trusting in the native intelligence of his readers. At the very beginning, his sentences are overly simplistic, the ideas are under-developed, and repetition for the sake of hammering home a straightforward point is over-used. However, very shortly into the book the author seems to abandon this strategy -- thankfully! -- and it is then that the book takes on a life of its own, as Gregory seems to give in to his palpable (and contagious) enthusiasm for the subject. He truly begins to shine when he reaches the Enlightenment, and this excellence continues through the 19th century. Inarguably, this is the most erudite, most exciting part of the book, and you will leave that time period with a new respect for its natural philosophers and scientists, their work and their theories.

Professor Gregory set out to accomplish a momentous task, and he has done so admirably. If you are interested in pursuing the history of science further, I also recommend without reservation Gregory's audio course from the Teaching Company, entitled "The History of Science: 1700 to 1900." It is just as fascinating and brilliant.