The Scientific Revolution"There was no such thing as the Scientific Revolution, and this is a book about it." With this provocative and apparently paradoxical claim, Steven Shapin begins his bold vibrant exploration of the origins of the modern scientific worldview. "Shapin's account is informed, nuanced, and articulated with clarity. . . . This is not to attack or devalue science but to reveal its richness as the human endeavor that it most surely is. . . .Shapin's book is an impressive achievement."—David C. Lindberg, Science "Shapin has used the crucial 17th century as a platform for presenting the power of science-studies approaches. At the same time, he has presented the period in fresh perspective."—Chronicle of Higher Education "Timely and highly readable . . . A book which every scientist curious about our predecessors should read."—Trevor Pinch, New Scientist "It's hard to believe that there could be a more accessible, informed or concise account of how it [the scientific revolution], and we have come to this. The Scientific Revolution should be a set text in all the disciplines. And in all the indisciplines, too."—Adam Phillips, London Review of Books "Shapin's treatise on the currents that engendered modern science is a combination of history and philosophy of science for the interested and educated layperson."—Publishers Weekly "Superlative, accessible, and engaging. . . . Absolute must-reading."—Robert S. Frey, Bridges "This vibrant historical exploration of the origins of modern science argues that in the 1600s science emerged from a variety of beliefs, practices, and influences. . . . This history reminds us that diversity is part of any intellectual endeavor."—Choice "Most readers will conclude that there was indeed something dramatic enough to be called the Scientific Revolution going on, and that this is an excellent book about it."—Anthony Gottlieb, The New York Times Book Review |
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - DarthDeverell - LibraryThingIn The Scientific Revolution, Steven Shapin argues, “Although many seventeenth-century practitioners expressed their intention of brining about radical intellectual change, the people who are said to ... Read full review
THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
User Review - KirkusA short but dense exposition arguing that there really wasn't a dramatic shift in how scholars went about discovering truth about the world in the 17th century. In other accounts of the science of the ... Read full review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accepted actually ancient animals Aristotelian authority Bacon belief bodies Boyle Boyle's called Cambridge University Press causal causes century changes chaps chapter Chicago claims clock conception concerned count culture Descartes developed early modern earth effects England English especially essays evidence example existence experience experimental explanations expressed fact Galileo historians History human idea idem important intellectual intelligibility interest interpretation John late laws London material mathematical matter means mechanical philosophers method mind modern science motion move natural knowledge natural philosophy natural world Newton noted objects observed offered orig Origins particular period phenomena physical political practice practitioners principles problems produced proper publ pump qualities reason recent referred reformed relation reliable religion religious Renaissance rhetoric Robert role Science Scientific Revolution secure sense seventeenth seventeenth-century sixteenth social Source structure Studies texts theory things thought tion traditional treated truth understanding widely York
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Scientific Revolution Science, culture |
| Author | Steven Shapin |
| Contributor | University of Chicago. Press |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press, 1996 |
| ISBN | 0226750213, 9780226750217 |
| Length | 218 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Modern / 17th Century Science / General Science / History |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |