A History of Science in Society : From Philosophy to Utility, Third Edition

This bestselling overview traces the history of science through its continually changing place in society, exploring the link between the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make that knowledge useful. The third edition includes thirteen fascinating new case studies illustrating the links between science and society-including Science and the Marketplace, Chemical War and the State, Science and Fascism, and Science and the Revolutionary Spirit. The new edition also contains non-Western material on the history of science in Japan, India, and China, as well as the Mayan and Aztec experience. The final chapter has been updated to reflect the role of science in the twenty-first century with a focus on the environment and on corporate science. A History of Science in Society is a concise overview that introduces complex ideas in a non-technical fashion. Ede and Cormack trace the history of the changing place of science in society and explore the link between the pursuit of knowledge and the desire to make that knowledge useful.New topics in this edition include astronomy and mathematics in ancient Mayan society, science and technology in ancient India and China, and Islamic cartography. New'Connections'features provide in-depth exploration of the ways science and society interconnect. The text is accompanied by 55 colour maps and diagrams, and 8 colour plates highlighting key concepts and events. Essay questions, chapter timelines, a further readings section, and an index provide additional support for students. A companion reader edited by the authors, A History of Science in Society: A Reader, is also available. "An update of the popular overview, A History of Science in Society traces the development of scientific thought throughout the ages. Beginning with the philosophy of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and proceeding through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and through to the present-day, the book presents key developments in scientific thought and theory. The new edition includes more material on non-Western science; new material on ethics, climate change, and corporate science in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries; more than 90 illustrations; updated timelines; and study questions designed to guide students."-- Provided by publisher Contents List of Illustrations List of Connections Boxes Acknowledgments Introduction 1 The Origins of Natural Philosophy 2 The Roman Era and the Rise of Islam 3 The Revival of Natural Philosophy in Western Europe 4 Science in the Renaissance: The Courtly Philosophers 5 Scientific Revolution: Contested Territory 6 The Enlightenment and Enterprise 7 Science and Empire 8 Entering the Atomic Age 9 Science and War 10 The Death of Certainty 11 1957: The Year the World Became a Planet 12 Man on the Moon, Microwave in the Kitchen 13 Science and New Frontiers: Potential and Peril in the New Millennium Further Reading Index