Cosmology, Atomic Theory, Evolution: Classic Readings in the Literature of Science (Paperback)

~ William Dampier (Editor), Margaret Dampier (Editor)

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Product Description

"Sir William Cecil Dampier's Readings in the Literature of Science has long been a classic. Unlike many other collections, it has the virtue of dealing thoroughly with three major subjects which are at the very heart of science: cosmogony, atomic theory and evolution. For each, the readings have been selected so as to give a continuous story, enabling the reader to share in the great excitement of the process of scientific discovery and the growth of knowledge from the earliest times to the present. Here, in the original writings of the men who have made science, are displayed the noble qualities of the disciplined imagination which are the chief defining characteristics of the scientific enterprise."--I. Bernard Cohen, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University. 1959 ed. 36 figures. 7 tables.

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486428052
• ISBN-13: 978-0486428055
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,875,044 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars classic documents in foundations of science, December 14, 2003

By A Customer

This Dover reprint of a collection of founding documents in the history of science is unusual in that it treats in parallel the three sciences of astronomy, structure of matter, and life. Brief commentaries help put the original writings of men such as Copernicus, Newton, Lavoisider, and Darwin in context. Reading these original papers gives one a sense of the struggles involved in forging modern natural science that is impossible to get from reading modern textbooks, or even histories of science. For example, the article by Lavoisier in which he describes experiments showing that combustion involves combination with oxidation, not release of the supposed substance "phlogiston", is even more revealing than the account in his later textbook of chemistry. The readings are likely to be more rewarding, however, with the aid of later works on the history of science. For example, the readings on chemistry are much easier to appreciate with the aid of Ihde's classic history, also available as a Dover reprint.