The invention of science : a new history of the scientific revolution

A companion to such acclaimed works as The __Age of Wonder, A Clockwork Universe,__ and __Darwin’s Ghosts__—a groundbreaking examination of the greatest event in history, the Scientific Revolution, and how it came to change the way we understand ourselves and our world. We live in a world transformed by scientific discovery. Yet today, science and its practitioners have come under political attack. In this fascinating history spanning continents and centuries, historian David Wootton offers a lively defense of science, revealing why the Scientific Revolution was truly the greatest event in our history. __The Invention of Science__ goes back five hundred years in time to chronicle this crucial transformation, exploring the factors that led to its birth and the people who made it happen. Wootton argues that the Scientific Revolution was actually five separate yet concurrent events that developed independently, but came to intersect and create a new worldview. Here are the brilliant iconoclasts—Galileo, Copernicus, Brahe, Newton, and many more curious minds from across Europe—whose studies of the natural world challenged centuries of religious orthodoxy and ingrained superstition. From gunpowder technology, the discovery of the new world, movable type printing, perspective painting, and the telescope to the practice of conducting experiments, the laws of nature, and the concept of the fact, Wotton shows how these discoveries codified into a social construct and a system of knowledge. Ultimately, he makes clear the link between scientific discovery and the rise of industrialization—and the birth of the modern world we know. Dedication......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 List of Illustrations......Page 8 Introduction......Page 14 1. Modern Minds......Page 16 2. The Idea of the Scientific Revolution......Page 27 Part One: The Heavens and the Earth......Page 59 3. Inventing Discovery......Page 61 4. Planet Earth......Page 107 Part Two: Seeing is Believing......Page 152 5. The Mathematization of the World......Page 153 6. Gulliver’s Worlds......Page 197 Part Three: Making Knowledge......Page 228 7. Facts......Page 229 8. Experiments......Page 282 9. Laws......Page 329 10. Hypotheses/Theories......Page 347 11. Evidence and Judgement......Page 364 Part Four: Birth of the Modern......Page 390 12. Machines......Page 391 13. The Disenchantment of the World......Page 407 14. Knowledge is Power......Page 431 Conclusion: The Invention of Science......Page 462 15. In Defiance of Nature......Page 463 16. These Postmodern Days......Page 492 17. ‘What Do I Know?’......Page 503 A Note on Greek and Medieval ‘Science’......Page 518 A Note on Religion......Page 520 Wittgenstein: No Relativist......Page 521 Notes on Relativism and Relativists......Page 524 A Note on Dates and Quotations......Page 535 A Note on the Internet......Page 536 Acknowledgements......Page 538 Bibliography......Page 541 Endnotes......Page 627 Index......Page 695 Plate Section......Page 790 About the Author......Page 807 Credits......Page 809 Copyright......Page 810 About the Publisher......Page 811 The Invention Of Science Goes Back Five Hundred Years In Time To Chronicle This Crucial Transformation, Exploring The Factors That Led To Its Birth And The People Who Made It Happen. Wootton Argues That The Scientific Revolution Was Actually Five Separate Yet Concurrent Events That Developed Independently, But Came To Intersect And Create A New Worldview. Here Are The Brilliant Iconoclasts--galileo, Copernicus, Brahe, Newton, And Many More Curious Minds From Across Europe--whose Studies Of The Natural World Challenged Centuries Of Religious Orthodoxy And Ingrained Superstition,--amazon.com. Introduction. Modern Minds ; The Idea Of The Scientific Revolution -- Part One. The Heavens And The Earth: Inventing Discovery ; Planet Earth -- Part Two. Seeing Is Believing: The Mathematization Of The World ; Gulliver's Worlds -- Part Three. Making Knowledge: Facts ; Experiments ; Laws ; Hypotheses/theories ; Evidence And Judgement -- Part Four. Birth Of The Modern: Machines ; The Disenchantment Of The World ; Knowledge Is Power -- In Defiance Of Nature ; These Postmodern Days ; 'what Do I Know?'. David Wootton. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [573]-722) And Index. "The Invention of Science goes back five hundred years in time to chronicle this crucial transformation, exploring the factors that led to its birth and the people who made it happen. Wootton argues that the Scientific Revolution was actually five separate yet concurrent events that developed independently, but came to intersect and create a new worldview. Here are the brilliant iconoclasts--Galileo, Copernicus, Brahe, Newton, and many more curious minds from across Europe--whose studies of the natural world challenged centuries of religious orthodoxy and ingrained superstition. From gunpowder technology, the discovery of the new world, movable type printing, perspective painting, and the telescope to the practice of conducting experiments, the laws of nature, and the concept of the fact, Wootton shows how these discoveries codified into a social construct and a system of knowledge"-- Provided by publisher "The Invention of Science goes back five hundred years in time to chronicle this crucial transformation, exploring the factors that led to its birth and the people who made it happen. Wootton argues that the Scientific Revolution was actually five separate yet concurrent events that developed independently, but came to intersect and create a new worldview. Here are the brilliant iconoclasts--Galileo, Copernicus, Brahe, Newton, and many more curious minds from across Europe--whose studies of the natural world challenged centuries of religious orthodoxy and ingrained superstition. From gunpowder technology, the discovery of the new world, movable type printing, perspective painting, and the telescope to the practice of conducting experiments, the laws of nature, and the concept of the fact, Wootton shows how these discoveries codified into a social construct and a system of knowledge" -- Publisher's website "The Invention of Science goes back five hundred years in time to chronicle this crucial transformation, exploring the factors that led to its birth and the people who made it happen. Wootton argues that the Scientific Revolution was actually five separate yet concurrent events that developed independently, but came to intersect and create a new worldview. Here are the brilliant iconoclasts--Galileo, Copernicus, Brahe, Newton, and many more curious minds from across Europe--whose studies of the natural world challenged centuries of religious orthodoxy and ingrained superstition. From gunpowder technology, the discovery of the new world, movable type printing, perspective painting, and the telescope to the practice of conducting experiments, the laws of nature, and the concept of the fact, Wootton shows how these discoveries codified into a social construct and a system of knowledge"-- Résumé de l'éditeur